By August Gribbin
                      THE WASHINGTON TIMES

                           A labor union that represents Mexican workers is
                      pressuring Congress to quickly "regularize the status" of
                      Mexicans working illegally in the United States, but insiders
                      say there will be no action on that issue this year.
                           The fast-growing, 1.5 million-member Service
                      Employees International Union (SEIU) has begun a mail campaign
                      urging legislators to fix specifics to President Bush's vague declaration
                      that America should ignore the illegal status of an estimated 3.5
                      million undocumented Mexican workers in the nation and find a
                      way for them to obtain permanent residency en route to becoming
                      citizens.
                           SEIU also wants a program — possibly a temporary visa
                      arrangement — that builds on the president's concept that it
                      should be legal for Mexicans to flow back and forth across
                      the border to work here and, perhaps, eventually earn U.S.
                      citizenship.
                           The union, which represents janitors, hospital aides, home
                      care workers and other service workers, has many Hispanic
                      members.
                           "Members from around the country are sending postcards
                      to Congress, asking legislators to take up the issue. We want
                      the Congress to make immigration fair and help tax-paying,
                      hardworking immigrants to become U.S. citizens," says
                      Renee Asher, a union spokeswoman.
                           "We're going to see more and more activities of the
                      grass-roots and community variety and efforts by groups and
                      organizations that want lawmakers and President Bush to
                      take up the issue again," Miss Asher said.
                           The president and ranking members of his administration
                      are dealing with the issue.
                            According to news accounts, the matter has come up
                      again during a Mexico visit by Tom Ridge, head of the Office
                      of Homeland Security. Mr. Ridge was in Mexico last week,
                      dealing with border-security issues and paving the way for
                      Mr. Bush's visit to Monterey on March 22. Immigration and
                      Naturalization Service (INS) officials have made it clear the
                      issue is high on Mr. Bush's agenda, but Congress shows no
                      interest.
                           "Everyone realizes that Congress' interest for the rest of
                      the year lies elsewhere. Nothing will happen until the next
                      session of Congress," says Randel Johnson, a U.S. Chamber
                      of Commerce vice president who closely monitors
                      congressional activity on immigration policy.
                           "There's no heart in Congress at this point to push through
                      something so controversial," said James Edwards, an
                      immigration consultant and co-author of a book on the
                      politics of immigration. "This is not to say Republicans in
                      Congress wouldn't do something for a Republican president.
                      It is to say there would be a whole lot of political damage to
                      ensue if they dealt with this now."
                           Nonetheless, Rep. Christopher B. Cannon, Utah
                      Republican, who is President Bush's point man on the issue in
                      the House, said, "I'm hoping we'll get something done this
                      year. We're talking a lot among ourselves."
                           Mr. Cannon says he expects "some progress [on a bill
                      that calls] for tracking aliens here in America," adding that it
                      may pass. He says it might be possible to tack on a provision
                      giving temporary status to illegals "as an inducement for them
                      to identify themselves."