Colorado’s Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo has declared war and it’s not against the Democrats. His target is President Bush and his plan for immgration reform.

Bush in an interview with the Washington Times published on Wednesday said he plans to force a debate in Congress this year on his proposal that would allow some illegal immigrants to obtain legal work permits in the United States.

“Look, whether or not you agree with the solution or not, we have a problem in America when you’ve got 8 million undocumented workers here,” he said.

Tancredo heads up the House Immigration Reform Caucus. He is opposed to the guest worker program and not only wants more enforcement of laws against the undocumented, but a reduction in lawful migration as well. Tancredo says he has lined up 180 members of the Republican caucus to oppose Bush on his plan for amnesty for some undocumented workers.

Tancredo says that Bush has expended his available political capital on the war and social security.

When he talks about spending capital, a great deal has been depleted by the war in Iraq. Far more will be depleted by an attempt to change either the Social Security system or the tax policy of this country,” he said.

If President Bush can learn to use the term “undocumented workers” instead of “illegal aliens,” surely Tancredo can too. Even if he opposes their continued presence in this great nation of immigrants.

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“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.