President Bush plans to address the nation Monday night about immigration reform. Senate Republican and Democratic leaders announced late last week they will move forward on legislation that tightens border security and puts many of the illegal immigrants already in our country on the path to citizenship.

Both the president and U.S. senators will have to forgive constituents who fear what's being offered up in the name of immigration reform will do little to halt the flow of illegal immigrants. Americans have seen immigration reform before, particularly in 1986, when a crisis that pales compared to this one produced what was labeled as strong legislation -- coupled with an amnesty program.

Most illegal immigrants here in 1986 got amnesty. But instead of true reform, this nation got even more porous borders and, by 2006, at least 11 million illegal immigrants and perhaps as many as 15 million.

The U.S. House has passed a reform bill that focuses on protecting this country's borders, while it also makes being in this country illegally a felony and does not provide what the president and most senators are demanding, which is a pathway to citizenship for many illegal immigrants.

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The Senate bill coming back up for debate will put illegal immigrants into three categories based on how long they have been in the United States. Only the first group -- those who have come here since January 2004 -- would be required to return home. Ways for remaining in the United States would be provided for most other illegal workers.

The reform legislation wanted by many Americans would make it extraordinarily difficult for people to enter this country illegally. Part of this is based on a desire to make our country more secure in a time when porous borders could by used by terrorists. But many Americans also recognize that illegal immigration undermines the very foundation of this country by mocking the rule of law, devaluing wages for many unskilled Americans and exhausting limited resources for our schools, hospitals and social service agencies.

At least some critics of the reform plan backed by the president and the Senate could be mollified if they were persuaded the holes would be plugged on our borders, but particularly our southern borders. There must be aggressive, consistent border enforcement and painful penalties for employers who benefit from the cheap labor of illegal immigrants.

There's room for a narrow pathway to citizenship based on longevity in this country, lack of a criminal record, stable employment and a commitment to learning English. But first, the nation must prove it can secure its borders and end the flow of illegal immigrants.