WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush's proposed immigration reform and border security package is drawing criticism from within his own Republican ranks.
Bush's plan, announced Monday night, faces particularly stiff opposition from within his own Republican party in the House because of what some conservatives perceive as an element of amnesty.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., took issue with Bush's distinction between a legalization process for illegal immigrants and amnesty.
"If they are here illegally and you make them here legally, that is an amnesty," Rohrabacher told CNN.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said on Fox News that Bush's plan to give some illegal immigrants a way to work their way to citizenship is "not fair" to those who have "been waiting for years outside the country to come in."
Bush said he has five objectives: secure borders, a temporary worker program, make employers responsible for hiring legal workers, create a mechanism to allow those who are currently here illegally to make their status legal and help immigrants learn English and assimilate.
