The Bush Administration is heavily lobbying House and Senate conferees on the defense supplemental appropriations bill to pass it with the “Real ID” ban on illegal immigrant obtaining drivers’ licenses. This from a White House letter sent yesterday to House Appropriations Committee chairman Jerry Lewis:

The Administration strongly urges the conferees to include the Real ID Act of 2005 in the final version of the bill. This important legislation will strengthen the ability of the United States to protect against terrorist entry into and activities within the United States. In particular, the legislation tightens procedures for non-citizen entry into and presence in the United States, facilitates the building of physical barriers where appropriate to protect U.S. borders, and facilitates the strengthening of State standards for the security and integrity of drivers’ licenses. The Administration has some concerns with the House-passed version of the bill and will work with the conferees to make sure these concerns are addressed. The Administration also supports provisions in the Senate version of the bill that would exempt returning seasonal, documented workers from current visa caps.