The Nub of the Issue

Finally, after months of pummelling, it looks like enforcement-first immigration types have found their voices. According to Robert Novak, the Senate version of the immigration bill provides what's essentially a loophole through which terrorists could escape -- namely, that police would be forbidden from arresting illegals for civil offenses. Note that a number of the 9/11 hijackers were stopped for speeding . . . and then let go.

Republicans need to explain that, although a number of factors enter into their enforcement-first approach, the key one is protecting the country.

Maybe the revelation about the terrorist loophole in the Senate version will help them find their voice. Because either we're serious about catching terrorists -- or we're not. The way the "terrorist loophole" is treated will tell us a lot.