The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Several key senators criticized President Bush yesterday for failing to use his leadership to push immigration reforms through Congress.
"I know when the administration really wants something and when they are lukewarm. I'm being polite when I call it lukewarm," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which held a hearing on U.S.-Mexico relations.

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In a White House speech Jan. 7, Bush called for immigration reforms that would give temporary legal status to illegal and legal immigrants while they work in the United States during three-year renewable periods. Hispanic groups and conservatives have attacked the proposal, and Bush this month cast doubt on its chances for passage.

"There's no telling what's going to happen in an election year," Bush said during Mexico President Vicente Fox's visit to his Crawford, Texas, ranch March 6.

The senators said Bush could prevail if he put some political muscle behind his proposal.

"The immense task before us to get immigration reform ... it is going to require intense presidential leadership," said Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. Hagel has introduced an immigration reform bill with Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle.

Although the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would not have jurisdiction over an immigration reform bill, committee Chairman Dick Lugar, R-Ind., said he called yesterday's hearing "to try to elevate this issue." He praised Bush for exercising political courage proposing the reforms, but said the committee wants more from the administration on the issue.

"We are prepared to do a lot more. We are needing some guidance," Lugar said.

White House spokesman Taylor Gross said the president has mentioned immigration reform 12 times in speeches, including his State of the Union address. Also, White House staff has met numerous times with Congress "to discuss how to move forward on implementing legislation that would include the principles the president outlined," he said.

White House staff also has attended the two meetings held by an immigration working group assembled by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and led by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Gross said.

During the hearing, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., described how illegal immigrant children had died crossing the Arizona desert. One young girl was found with her Bible, and a boy was found with rosary beads around his neck. Since last year, more than 200 immigrants have been found dead in Arizona, he said.

"If 200 and some people were dying in such a short period of time anywhere else in America, there would be a great hue and cry about it," McCain said. "It's apparent to me that Congress is not going to act this year on this issue."

Talking later with reporters, McCain said Congress should merge the many immigration proposals introduced and pass a bill before summer, when more immigrants will die in the desert.

"Why can't we merge them the way we usually do on these issues? The reason is because it's politically too hot," McCain said.

Hagel said Bush's proposals "gets us only 5 percent there."