According to every source, the immigration bill is on track to pass the Senate without either serious amendment or substantive debate. Of course, it is always possible that a continuing flood of objections will affect enough votes to slow the process down, but it seems highly unlikely at this point.

That's a shame. As a strong supporter of a comprehensive approach to immigration reform - one which addresses border and visa security immediately, provides a guest worker program to satisfy the labor demands of our economy, and sets out a program to register illegals already here and give the worthy among them a path to citizenship eventually - I recognize that failure to address any of these areas hurts the chances of success of efforts to deal with the others.

I supported the original Bush plan, with the addition of the fence and visa security measures, as the best practical opportunity to attempt to solve the real problems. The original McCain-Kennedy bill from last year was a watered-down version, and this new bill does present some improvements. There are, however, deficiencies which make it a poisoned pill.

First and foremost is the lack of enforcement. I do NOT mean the reduction of fence funding to roughly half the authorized distance - with the addition of vehicle barriers and electronic monitoring, that could work. It is not necessary to fence the whole border. We need to fence those areas where illegal border-crossing is high. For example, the success of the fence in San Diego: it doesn't extend forever, and neither need the new fencing.

Rather, the problem is that enforcement provisions, while set as "triggers" for the citizenship program, have no bearing at all on the probationary "Z-visas" which must be granted within 24 hours of application unless the applicant fails a background check in that time. The government can hardly wind its watch in 24 hours; every applicant will be instantly legalized under this plan.

Also, as Fred Thompson has noted, after the Simpson-Mazzoli Act, no one seriously believes the promises for future enforcement.

I've never been an "enforcement-first" supporter, until now, because to too many it seems to mean "enforcement only." Most of those calling for it don't want guest workers or "paths" at all. But without "enforcement-first," we will get "enforcement never."

Secondly, no distinction in eligibility is made between immigrants from most countries and those from countries with active jihadist networks and others inimical to the interests of the United States. Illegals from such countries should be subjected to close scrutiny before being offered any form of legalization, and certainly should not be eligible for the nearly instant legal status offered by the "Z-visa." (Naturally, those qualifying for status as political refugees should not be affected).

The last poison pill (at least of which I am now aware; the bill is still being parsed for more) is the ridiculous requirements for the "path to citizenship." Now, AFAIAC, citizenship is the least of the worries of the immigration problem. The bill sets out an 18-year "path," so no one would be "cutting in line," and that's good. But the requirement to pay a $5000 initial fee, return to country of origin for months, and then pay more unspecified fees before returning legally is just plain silly. Only the rare well-to-do illegal could afford the fees, while the rest are here to send help to their families at home - families who need the few hundred a month, and would be at great hardship to forgo it for extended periods, much less pay the fees.

Bush's original plan called for a $2000 fee, and payment of all back taxes owed over time. For the legalization, many illegals would have scraped that together. Going home is not an option for most of them - would YOU?

What is the point in a "reform" which will NOT register most of the people we need to get on the books?

The number of guest worker permits has also been slashed to 400,000, with only two-year duration, followed by a year returned to home country. Does that make any sense? We let you come in, train you, give you experience, then send you home and bring in someone else to train anew?

I am severely disappointed because this bill not only doesn't solve the problems, it makes them worse in several ways.

The smartest thing that ever came away from Congress was an empty limousine.