The Associated Press is reporting today the Senate has blocked the immigration bill.

“The bill’s supporters fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to limit debate and clear the way for final passage of the legislation, which critics assailed as offering amnesty to illegal immigrants. The vote was 46 to 53 in favor of limiting the debate.

Senators in both parties said the issue is so volatile that Congress is highly unlikely to revisit it this fall or next year, when the presidential election will increasingly dominate American politics.

The immigration bill has died, and that is truly wonderful news, unfortunately the problem has not gone away. We still have 12 to 20 million people residing in our country illegally, and limited enforcement of our borders. Our elected representatives, as oppossed to allowing the issue to fade away, need to step up and provide America with a solution that will work.

For starters building the 760 miles of fence authorized by Congress last year would allow Americans to lower their gaurd the next time the subject of immigration reform comes up. Authorizing local law enforcement to work in conjunction with ICE to remove existing illegals after being arrested for a crime also seems like a no-brainer which our Government has not yet accomplished.

My message to Congress, and President Bush is, show Americans you have what it takes to enforce existing laws and legislation, then come to us with new ones.

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Congress, Immigration, Politics