Omaha, Neb. ? Immigration reform has divided Americans, and President Bush’s speech on the issue got a divided response in Omaha Wednesday.

At Metropolitan Community College’s south campus, about 400 people cheered and whistled as the president spoke of assimilating immigrants into U.S. society and reiterated his support of a guest-worker program.

“We’ve got people living in the shadows of our society, and that’s not right,” he said.

About a mile away at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, the crowd of about 100 was more subdued.

“He was talking about the issue, but nothing to fix it,” said Marcela Cervantes of Omaha. “He did not say clearly what he’s going to do.”

David R., a student at Bellevue Community College who declined to give his last name, said he wants to become a doctor and is in the process of gaining legal status. He’s lived in Omaha five years, and is from Morelos, Mexico.

Current immigration reform proposals are dangerous, he said. “If these laws are passed, Omaha will lose a great doctor, a great leader, and a great member of the community,” he said.

The Rev. Damian Zuerlein said the U.S. Catholic bishops oppose the House bill, especially the criminalization of immigrants and those who help them.

Zuerlein, pastor of St. Columbkille Parish in Papillion, said it’s important to face reality, not rely on rhetoric.

“I think people are hopeful that he (Bush) is taking some leadership on this issue,” Zuerlein said. “There’s been a steady drumbeat of those who have clouded the issue. They label it amnesty, and it’s not.”

U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, whom Bush thanked for his work on immigration reform legislation, said Nebraska was an appropriate place for the president’s speech.

“It’s a state that’s anchored in a commonsense approach to fixing problems,” Hagel said. “People think rather clearly out here.”

Rosa Weatherly, a pediatric nurse, got her tickets to the speech late Tuesday. She said immigration reform was important to her and she was glad the president was making his case.

“I think there needs to be something done about immigration, and I don’t want them all deported,” she said.

A group of protesters gathered Wednesday morning along Q Street, holding signs as Bush’s motorcade went from the Juan Diego Center to Metro Community College. Some were from Nebraskans for Peace, protesting the Iraq war, while others were opposed the White House plan for immigration reform.

A few members of the Nebraska Chapter of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps were outside the Juan Diego Center.

Bush visited the Juan Diego Center, which assists immigrants in a heavily Hispanic area of south Omaha, before his speech at the college.

Bush arrived in Omaha Tuesday night and left just before 10 a.m. Wednesday.