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Senate Takes on Illegal Immigration

The Senate will begin this week what President Bush says could be a "fractious debate" over border security, his temporary-worker proposal and measures to let some of the 12 million illegal aliens in the United States earn citizenship. He leaves on Wednesday for meetings in Cancun, Mexico, with Mexican President Vicente Fox, who has been disappointed by the lack of progress on a U.S. guest-worker program.

Lawmakers can expect to be greeted at the Capitol by dozens of clergy wearing handcuffs to protest proposals that will make it a criminal offense to help an illegal alien.

On Sunday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she had made clear to Mexico`s foreign minister that the United States expected Mexico to recognize the importance of border defense and U.S. law. The House has already passed a bill. That measure would crack down on illegal immigrants and those that hire them. It also authorizes more border fencing.