Q Does he agree with President Fox's assessment that any kind of meaningful immigration reform is going to be four to six years off?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I'm not sure exactly what the number of years will be. That very well may be the case. But what's important from President Bush's point of view is to continue to make progress and do so immediately. And that's why he has directed Secretary Powell and General Ashcroft to be working on this initiative, and how to welcome immigrants to the United States in a legal, humane and safe way. And it will take additional work.
Q Ari, is it your view on this, there were much higher expectations when this first came up a few months ago. Have there been things that you would point to that have slowed down the process on this? Is it political opposition on Capitol Hill? What's the problem here?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think it's a reflection of the complicated nature of immigration issues, that all good intentions are also met by a very interesting reality on the ground, involving the rights of people to come to the United States and the obligations on people to come here legally, while recognizing that America has benefitted nicely from millions of people who have come here, who pay taxes here and are contributing to the American economy.
Thank you.
END 12:38 P.M. EDT