Among the tiny handful of Americans who still clung to the illusion that President Bush might want to truly address and correct the illegal immigration crisis, it only took the first moments of his May 15 speech to dispel all hope. Though conceding, seemingly for the first time, that the invasion from Mexico is indeed a problem, the President immediately fell back into the standard diatribe that has underscored Washington's indifference to the American people on this matter.

Referring to the invaders as 'decent people who work hard,' the President sought to dilute the fact that their presence here represents a blatant violation and contempt for the laws of this country. Furthermore, by virtually asserting that the real travesty is that the illegals are not sufficiently 'protected,' he slapped the face of every law—abiding American.

Perhaps Mr. Bush needs to be reminded that it was the decent and hard working Americans that he once swore a solemn oath to protect, and whose well being he was elected to uphold.

Clearly, President Bush's goal, as well as that of the consummate political pragmatists who hold sway within the GOP, is to offer yet another fig leaf of a guest worker program. Thus they seek to camouflage their ominous underlying intent, which is as it always has been, amnesty for those who violated the law to enter this country.

That is the reality of the plan that was presented in his May 15 speech. It is the plan that has been in the works among the