SERGIO BUSTOS
Citizen Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Several senators pleaded with a congressional panel yesterday to move quickly to fix the country's failed immigration system, while top Bush administration officials promoted the president's plan to solve the problem.
The senators and administration officials, testifying before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration and border security, agreed the current immigration system forces millions of people to live in society's shadows, fails to meet the labor needs of scores of businesses and weakens national security.

But they don't agree on a solution.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, whose bill mirror's Bush's plan, said yesterday that his measure includes incentives for temporary foreign workers - especially those from Mexico - to return to their native countries.

Another bill, introduced by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would allow temporary visa-holders who meet certain requirements to become permanent residents.

The hearing comes a month after Bush called on Congress to rewrite the country's immigration laws by allowing foreign workers - including illegal immigrants - to work in jobs unfilled by Americans.

He wants foreign workers to receive three-year renewable visas, but temporary visa-holders would not be given preference in becoming permanent residents.

"This is not an amnesty," said Eduardo Aguirre Jr., director of Citizenship and Immigration Services, one of several federal agencies that would be charged with keeping track of temporary foreign workers admitted into the country.

His comments were echoed by Asa Hutchinson, chief official in charge of enforcing the nation's immigration laws at the Homeland Security Department.