The White House is sending out talking points arguing that even though the public does not like the immigration bill, Congress should pass it because voters want something done about the issue:

A majority (55 percent) say even though the bill before Congress might not be exactly what they would prefer on immigration, it is important for Congress to pass a bill that deals with illegal immigration and confronts the problem. Only 38 percent say it is better to not pass a bill at all and to just enforce the laws already on the books.

Of course, that leaves aside the question of whether the action desired by the public is substantially different from that provided for in the bill. In any event, in a conference call after the cloture vote, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff made the “laws already on the books” argument, telling reporters that the Bush administration is already vigorously enforcing current law, so much so that it might actually be hurting the economy. “We’re living in a world in which lettuce and fruit are not being picked because we are enforcing the law,” Chertoff said.