Republicans warn Bush on immigration policy

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DENVER - Twenty-three congressmen warned President Bush in a letter yesterday that he risks an election-year backlash from Republican voters if he continues to press his guest-worker proposal.

The Republican lawmakers said their congressional offices have received a flood of angry letters, e-mails and phone calls from Republican constituents vowing that they will refuse to vote for the president if his program is approved.

"Since the President's speech, our offices have been inundated with calls from dismayed constituents expressing vehement opposition to the Administration's proposal," said the letter signed by several members of the House Immigration Reform Caucus.

"It is a matter of great concern to us that these constituents politically active American citizens are so disillusioned by the proposal that many of them will become disenchanted with not only the Administration, but with Congress as well," said the letter, which also was sent to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican. "If we do not listen to our constituents on this matter, our influence and effectiveness in Congress could be jeopardized."

Most of the congressmen signing are conservatives who represent Western, Southern and Midwestern states, including California, Idaho, Texas, Tennessee and Kansas.

The White House plan, released earlier this month, would give guest-worker status to undocumented aliens who have come to the United States to work. An estimated 8 million to 12 million immigrants live here illegally.

But critics say the plan would give de facto amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, exacerbating the social ills faced by many border states while reducing respect for immigration laws.

White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said yesterday that she hadn't yet seen the letter, but stressed the importance of the president's proposal in controlling illegal immigration.

"The president's temporary-worker program is a well thought-out aimed at improving border security, meeting our economic needs and being compassionate to those trying to improve their situation for themselves and their families," Miss Buchan said. "He looks forward to working with Congress to pass this legislation."

Even so, some Republicans, mainly those in the West and South, worry that the issue could become a political loser for the party in 2004. Critics have accused the White House of using the issue to pander to Hispanic special-issue groups at the expense of its core constituency.