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Ärende: Press Release (0704092) for Mon, 2007 Apr 9
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Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary April 9, 2007

Press Gaggle by Gordon Johndroe Aboard Air Force One En route Yuma, Arizona

˙˙Press Briefings

8:39 A.M. CDT

MR. JOHNDROE: We're on our way to Yuma, Arizona, where the President will
make remarks on the need for comprehensive immigration reform. He visited
the Yuma border area last year, spoke to the nation about this important
issue in May, and reiterated his call for immigration legislation in the
State of the Union this year.

This is an important national priority, but also for the President this is
a matter of deep conviction. He will talk about working with members of
both parties on comprehensive reform that accomplishes five clear
objectives: one, securing the border; two, a temporary worker program;
third, holding employers accountable for the workers they hire; fourth,
resolving the status of the millions of illegal immigrants already here;
and, fifth, finding new ways to help newcomers assimilate into our society.

After arriving, the President will receive a briefing on unmanned aerial
vehicles and how they are used to help secure our borders. The President
will then participate in a three-stop tour of a Yuma sector border. Stop
one is a National Guard entry identification team at a National Guard
observation post. Stop two is a border fence construction area. At stop
three he'll see some border infrastructure work that has been completed.

Also, the jobs numbers released on Friday -- 180,000 new jobs in March and
a drop in the unemployment rate from 4.4 percent -- highlight one more
reason why we need comprehensive immigration reform.

On another note, it's now been 63 days since the President asked Congress
to fund our troops. It's good to see the Senate returning to work this
week; we hope the House comes back soon, because it is clear the Democrats
in Congress need to sit down and negotiate with themselves first, before
they talk to anybody else about getting legislation done -- legislation
that doesn't, one, micromanage our generals in Baghdad and their strategy
for success; two, set arbitrary timetables; three, make cuts to funding for
programs that help the Iraqis achieve a political solution; four, include
ridiculous, non-emergency pork barrel spending; and, five, doesn't cutoff
all funding, as some senators have suggested -- a move that would only
serve to mandate a defeat that will abandon the people of Iraq to
terrorists and extremists and leave our troops in the field without the
money they need.

Given that a number of senators and members are saying they will fully fund
the troops, it would be unfortunate if they continue down the path that
forces the President to reluctantly veto a bill. But if that is the only
way to get this done, let's get it over with so our troops can get the
funding they need.

With that, do you have any questions?

Q With the tensions over the Iraq funding bill, how can you make progress
on immigration reform, when there are these tensions with the Democrats?

MR. JOHNDROE: Well, I think the President is hopeful and confident that we
can make progress on a number of issues. Yes, there are a lot of issues
that there is disagreement on -- as you mentioned, the Iraq war
supplemental funding. But we're having productive conversations with
members from both sides of the aisle in both Houses about comprehensive
immigration reform, and there are a number of proposals floating around and
a number of discussions going on and the President is hopeful and feels
confident that we'll be able to get something done on this important issue.

Q So does one issue not affect another?

MR. JOHNDROE: I think that while sometimes one issue may dominate the
headlines of the day, there's a lot of quiet work that goes on underneath
the surface so that we can get some legislation done on important issues
like immigration or education. And so sometimes some issues are the
dominant news-maker, but I think the work is still getting done.

Q Is there quiet progress on Social Security?

MR. JOHNDROE: I would say there's quiet progress on a number of fronts, but
right now, obviously, the priorities are getting the Iraq emergency war
supplemental funding done, and today, for the President to highlight the
need for comprehensive immigration reform.

Q Nancy Pelosi said that she wants bipartisan support, as many as 70
Republicans to join this in the House. Kennedy said the same thing in the
Senate, wants it to be a bipartisan bill. What does the President have to
do in order to persuade Republicans to move on the immigration bill? And,
also, do you think it's right that they're demanding that it be bipartisan?
They can pass this by themselves; they control both Houses.

MR. JOHNDROE: This is such a heated and emotional issue for people in this
country, and a subject that the President takes very seriously. And I think
he's put forth a proposal that meets the need for stronger border
enforcement, but also provides a way that, frankly, strengthens the rule of
law by imposing a penalty on those who broke the law to enter the country,
and setting a high bar in order for them to show that they want to be model
citizens, and the need to learn English, learn our history and that sort of
thing.

So I think there are a number of proposals out there. The President will
talk today about these five main objectives, and these are areas that I
think members of both parties will be able to come together on.

Q But should the House pass a bill without Republican support, should
Democrats do this, or is Pelosi right to demand 70 Republicans join this?

MR. JOHNDROE: I think -- let's see where this goes. I don't want to answer
the hypothetical roll call vote already. I think what the President is
focused on, and what Secretaries Chertoff and Gutierrez are focused on are
getting the best bill possible.

Q Where does the President stand on this proposal for a Z visa in which
immigrants would -- a three-year visa they would pay $3,500 for?

MR. JOHNDROE: I've seen a lot of the news reports on that. There are a lot
of proposals floating around out there. I don't want to negotiate from
here. I'm going to let Secretaries Chertoff and Gutierrez do that with
members.

Q Gordon, what about the President's role in this? Some lawmakers, I
believe in both parties, have said that to get it done, the President is
going to not just be committed to the issue but get involved in it. Has he
done that, or does he plan to do that?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, the President has already spoken to some members
about immigration reform this year, and I think you'll see him continue to
reach out and have these discussions. We have a number of members traveling
today, and so I think this is something the President is going to be
involved in.

Q Can you explain why we're going back to Yuma, the second time in a year,
given the number of places he could be going to make his point?

MR. JOHNDROE: Sure. I mean, it's been almost one year since the President
was last here in Yuma. He is going to dedicate a new Border Patrol station.
But the main purpose is to highlight the progress that has been made. The
Yuma Border Patrol sector has significantly improved the statistics as far
as apprehensions and detentions because of a stronger emphasis on border
enforcement. And the President will see some of the new technologies. I
mentioned unmanned aerial vehicles. We'll also see some of the border
infrastructure put in place that the Border Patrol and National Guard can
use -- paved roads, additional lighting, unmanned sensors, that sort of
thing.

So what he's coming here to see and to highlight is demonstrable progress
in securing the border.

Q Do you have any numbers?

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes, the President will talk about specific numbers in his
remarks today, and we'll get those to you.

Q Have you got any reaction to Muqtada al Sadr's urging his followers to
rise up against the U.S. forces in Iraq?

MR. JOHNDROE: You know, the reports I've seen are that Sadr has urged his
various militias, who are, again I remind everyone, operating outside the
rule of law in Iraq, to not fight Iraqi security forces. And I think this
sort of comment is not surprising, given these Iraqi security forces are
having some success against the Jaish al Mahdi militias. And so we, the
United States, and you heard Prime Minister Maliki say, everyone operating
outside the rule of law need to -- will be dealt with.

And I note today that Sadr called for massive protests. I'm not sure that
we've seen that, those numbers materialize and the numbers that he was
seeking in his call from his hangout in Iran. But Iraq, four years on, is
now a place where people can freely gather and express their opinions. And
that was something they could not do under Saddam. And while we have much
more progress ahead of us -- the United States, the coalition and Iraqis
have much more to do -- this is a country that has come a long way from the
tyranny of Saddam Hussein.

Q Can you tell us what members of Congress will be going back after Yuma?
Who is on board now?

MR. JOHNDROE: Yes, the members are meeting us in Yuma -- Senator Kyl, as
well as, I believe, four members of Congress. And they are Congressman
Shadegg, Congressman Flake -- Jeff Flake, Congressman Trent Franks,
Congressman Harry Mitchell.

Okay. Thank you all.

END 8:51 A.M. CDT
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