Governors push for action on illegal immigration

? A growing number of governors, along the border and beyond, are sharpening their complaints about the flood of immigrants pouring into their states, pushing the Bush administration and Congress for action.

Republicans and Democrats alike on Sunday said they planned to bring the concerns to President Bush and his Cabinet in private meetings this week.

“This is a national issue,” said Democrat Janet Napolitano of Arizona, where 500,000 attempts to illegally cross the border were turned back last year – and an untold number got through. Nationally there are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants draining government resources.

Immigration was one contentious issue among many as more than 40 top state leaders gathered for the winter meeting of the National Governors Assn.

Bush hosted the governors at a formal White House dinner Sunday evening.

In states as far from the southern border as Utah, Missouri, Tennessee and Vermont, governors said immigrants are costing states dollars and spurring state legislation. All agree the answer lies in Washington and hope to provide a push as Congress weighs several competing bills.

Western governors have put together a multipoint plan that asks for tougher border enforcement that makes better use of technology, improvements in the visa system, adoption of a guest worker program and working with Mexico and other Latin America countries to tackle the root economic causes that send millions north looking for work.