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Immigration reform campaign relaunched at Ellis Island

NEW YORK -- In the historic Great Hall of Ellis Island, where 12 million immigrants once trudged through to build a nation, top government officials Friday tried to recharge a campaign to solve the modern dilemmas of immigration.

Bush administration security officials, including Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar, along with an historian, demographer, economist and former officials grappled with the biggest problem: what to do with another 12 million people -- the estimated number of illegal immigrants in the country now.

"This magnificent building reminds us of what made America, and it's a great place to begin our discussion," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., who decided to bring the House immigration subcommittee to the epicenter of the nation's immigration story.
Read entire article at San Jose Mercury News