Texans embrace Bush immigration plan

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DALLAS -- President Bush's plan for vast new immigration legislation generally has received positive reaction throughout much of Texas.

But some said the timing of the proposal was obviously political and predicted the measure would face a tough fight in Congress. Others argued it would benefit those who have already broken U.S. laws.

"Sounds awfully good and imminently positive from my vantage point," said Elmer Smith, 48, owner of a home-repair and roofing business in a Fort Worth suburb.

"It's finally facing reality," said Nick Jimenez, editorial-page editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. "Of course, the devil is always in the details."

The Bush plan proposes a temporary-worker program that would match foreign workers with U.S. employers when no American workers are available for those jobs. The permits would be given for a three-year period and could be renewed.

"How are we going to prove that no Americans are available for these jobs?" asked Robert Hudkins, a San Antonio restaurant owner.

Mr. Hudkins said he occasionally has had to fire illegal workers who present forged documents. "What happens when we hire a good worker under this program and then two Americans show up complaining that they want the job? What then?"

Benjamin Price, who places part-time workers in jobs in the Austin area, praised the plan, but credited Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, not Mr. Bush, for "much of the meat."