Bush, Rove Press Congress on Illegal-Worker Proposal

WASHINGTON — White House political strategist Karl Rove is offering lawmakers new details of an administration-backed guest worker program that would temporarily legalize the status of millions of illegal workers, according to Republicans who have attended the meetings.

The White House effort is seen as its latest step toward reasserting President Bush's leadership on one of the most divisive issues confronting the Republican Party.

Concerned that increasingly strident anti-immigrant voices within the party were undermining the administration's efforts to reach out to Latino voters, the administration formed a coalition of business groups and immigration advocates during the summer to lobby for the sort of comprehensive plan Bush has advocated since early in his presidency.

Some lawmakers see the recent White House sessions as evidence that Bush intends to pursue his plan as soon as this fall -- despite the strains Hurricane Katrina has put on the legislative agenda and despite ongoing opposition within his party.

"There is a level of detail that was not there before that is very important," said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), who has put forward his own guest worker bill. "All of us see a heightened engagement on this issue by the administration, which is good."

In January 2004, Bush said he wanted to allow illegal workers to apply for a three-year work visa, with the possibility of a single three-year extension before having to return to their native country. But Bush's proposal has never been translated into legislation, nor has he supported any immigration-related bill pending in Congress.

At recent presentations led by Rove, administration officials have told groups of lawmakers that under Bush's plan, any worker who is here illegally would first have to pay a substantial fine before being granted a temporary work visa. The fine is seen as a gesture to critics who have said any such legalization amounts to granting workers amnesty for breaking the law.

Administration officials have told lawmakers that workers who participate in the program and then return to their native countries would be allowed to reapply for a guest worker visa after a year.

Issa, who attended one of the meetings this week, said he was convinced Bush intended to push immigration legislation soon, and to do so by building a bipartisan coalition in favor of his plan.