One federal lawmaker on Tuesday called the country’s immigration
system “deeply fractured,” saying the current problems being
debated represent a national security issue.

According to U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., legislation already
passed by the House would reinforce current U.S. immigration laws
and help better identify those who pass through the country’s
borders illegally and stay beyond their established visa
deadlines.

“Defining a national border and enforcing those boundaries are
among the most fundamental responsibilities of a sovereign nation,
and every day that we fail to acknowledge that responsibility
represents another day we leave ourselves vulnerable to those who
would do us harm,” Peterson said.

“Everyone knows that it’s useless to start cleaning up after a
flood until you’re first able to stop the flow of water. I’m
confident that any plan emerging from this Congress will be focused
on that basic principle, and I’ll be doing my part to ensure that
it does.”

The lawmaker said the problem of illegal immigration is a
border, homeland and national security issue.

The issue now lies in the hands of the Senate, who is currently
working on finalizing its immigration package. Meanwhile,
legislation will also be debated in conference committees in both
chambers of the Capitol.

“I will continue to remind my colleagues in the House that any
proposal that fails to address the sieve that currently passes as
our national border is a proposal that is destined to fail,”
Peterson said.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted against a proposal by Republican
Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia that called for a border
security-first approach, according to The Associated Press. Those
in the Senate feel the immigration issue should follow a more
comprehensive approach in the glow of an election year.

During a speech to the nation on Monday, President Bush said
6,000 National Guard troops would be deployed in states along the
Mexican border and would provide intelligence and surveillance
support to Border Patrol agents. Bush also believes Congress should
allow illegal immigrants a chance at becoming citizens, something
which some conservatives in his own party reject as amnesty.

Officials said the plan would cost $1.9 billion. The president’s
proposal would also include provisions to toughen enforcement of
laws against businesses hiring illegal workers, according to
AP.

Peterson said “I thought the president’s address was thoughtful,
serious and very appropriate given the enormity of our nation’s
deeply fractured immigration system.”

There is a chance that troops from local Guard units would be
deployed to the border as part of the president’s plan. There has
been no official word, however, on any imminent movement.

“We have no doubt that if the Pennsylvania National Guard is
called upon to execute this particular mission, they will be
prepared to meet this challenge in the same way they’ve met every
other challenge laid down before them in the past,” Peterson’s
Communications Director Chris Tucker said Tuesday.

Tucker said Peterson’s office has contacted the Guard about the
possibility, but the agency has not been given a definitive answer
yet.

Gov. Ed Rendell, who is up for re-election this year, has
already gone on record saying he would oppose any lengthy
deployment of troops, noting the responsibility should be left to
the border states and that Pennsylvania has already deployed
thousands of troops to Iraq and elsewhere. Officials said the Guard
already has 2,300 of its 20,000 troops deployed abroad.

According to Tucker, the debate over illegal immigration has
been building for months and residents “can – and frankly should –
expect some real, substantive action” to be taken by Congress in
the near future.

Tucker said there was no way of telling right now which plan
will eventually emerge from Congress or when any specific
legislation would be considered.