As Bilbray took over the HIRC last January, evidence pointed to an expanding role within the Caucus for anti-immigrant groups. The California congressman announced plans to "work closely" with groups such as FAIR and the Center for Immigration Studies, itself a FAIR spin-off, and seek their input on legislation. It would not be an exaggeration to conclude that Brian Bilbray has been the Federation for American Immigration Reform's man in Washington.

Also leading the Caucus are Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa) and Lamar Smith (R-Texas), on the executive committee. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) heads the policy group on border security; Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) is leading the effort to end birthright citizenship; Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) is examining the supposed costs of illegal immigration; and Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) works on opposing "amnesty."20

Although House Caucus members continued to propose restrictive, enforcement-only bills during the first months of the 110th Congress, public discussion of immigration policy was monopolized by a Senate bill initially sponsored by Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) After the Senate's reform bill died its final death last June, members of the House Caucus celebrated the emergence of a very visible mass opposition to "amnesty; " meaning any measure that would give undocumented workers a path to legalization and citizenship. Caucus member Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) labeled the failed legislation "the Bush/Kennedy immigration bill." He argued that the Senate bill's proponents had improperly "dismissed their opposition," and "underestimated the powerful voice of the American people." Bilbray warned that those who would ignore the mass nativist social movement were going to "get hell in the next election." And in the aftermath of the Senate bill's defeat, several new congressional representatives joined the Caucus.