Bush: Immigration Critics May Spark Labor Shortage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — President Bush sharply challenged critics of his stalled immigration-overhaul efforts yesterday, suggesting that failure to pass a guest-worker program could trigger a labor shortage in America.

At a town-hall style meeting, Mr. Bush also rebuffed a question about whether he would consider pardoning two Border Patrol agents in prison for the cover-up of the shooting of a drug trafficker in Texas.

"No, I won't make you that promise," Mr. Bush told a woman who asked about a possible pardon. Many Republicans in Congress have said the men should not have been convicted and have criticized the federal U.S. attorney for even prosecuting the agents. "I know it's an emotional issue but people need to look at the facts " Mr. Bush said.