Bush to immigrants: Assimilate

OMAHA, June 7 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush Wednesday urged new immigrants to assimilate to take advantage of all the country has to offer.

In a speech at the South Omaha campus of the Metropolitan Community College, Bush announced he is creating a task force to be led by Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff to expand the teaching of English and signing legislation creating the Office of Citizenship at the Department of Homeland Security to promote knowledge of citizens' rights and responsibilities. He also pushed his plan for a guest worker program and called for a program to allow those already in the country to work toward citizenship.

"When you hear people like me talk about assimilation, that's what we're talking about: helping people assimilate into America, helping us remain one nation under God," Bush said.

Bush said he is confidant lawmakers can come to a consensus on immigration reform because of the importance of securing the nation's borders.