Hastert insists on border security first

WASHINGTON, July 21 (UPI) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., reportedly remains firm on improving U.S. border security first before tackling immigration reform issues.

The House and the Senate are at odds on immigration reform with two contending bills. The House version stresses tighter border security and penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants. The Senate bill would give citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.

Hastert told USA Today, "I would look at it as if you have a patient who is bleeding to death. Close the wound first. Secure the border. And then you can begin to look at what other options are."

Hastert plans to lead a delegation this weekend to inspect the U.S.-Mexican border, which he calls "a sieve," the report said.

Some senators say they are hopeful a compromise can be reached.

Separately, The Washington Times quoted the president of the Border Patrol union telling Congress that building fences along high-traffic areas of the U.S.-Mexico border has dramatically reduced crime.

But T.J. Bonner noted that while fences curb crime, they will do little to stop illegal entry if supplementary efforts are not undertaken such as increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and removing the lure of jobs in the United States.