Building Bridges, Not Fences

The GOP wants to crack down on illegal immigration. But it will take smarter policies, not just tougher ones, to win Hispanic votes in November

David McNew / Getty

Expanded fencing has resulted in a triple-fence border barrier on the US side of the U.S.-Mexico border near San Luis, California.

Americans may be divided on immigration, but the presidential candidates are not that far apart. Senators John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama all favor a deal that would combine increased enforcement of laws against illegal immigration, a guest-worker program to help businesses and a process for allowing illegal immigrants who meet certain conditions to become legal residents. So you might think immigration won't be an issue in this fall's races.

House Republicans are hoping otherwise. So far, 174 of them have signed a petition demanding a vote on the SAVE (Secure America Through Verification and Enforcement) Act, which would crack...

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