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CNN Live Sunday

Jill Carroll Reunites With Family; Secretary Rice Urges Formation of New Iraqi Government; Remembering Pope John Paul II; Debate Over Undocumented Immigrants

Aired April 02, 2006 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Former hostage Jill Carroll back in the U.S.A. Details of the final leg of her flight to freedom, straight ahead.
SOPHIA CHOI, CNN ANCHOR: Also ahead, a rough weekend for the Midwest, why more weather trouble could be on the way.

And...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The children are wreaking havoc on our intimacy, I should say.

CHOI: ... how one Michigan man is trying to strike his way to a little more romance.

Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Sophia Choi in for Fredricka Whitfield. And here's what's happening right now in the news.

Back in the U.S.A. and back with her family, Jill Carroll arrived in Boston a few hours ago. The freelance journalist was a hostage for 82 days in Iraq. More on this story in just a new minutes.

A missile test in the Middle East on state television in Iran, news of an underwater missile test. Iranian officials say the submarine attack missile is the fastest in the world.

Diplomacy on the road, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Baghdad today. Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is also part of the unannounced visit.

And honoring John Paul, Catholics mark the first anniversary of the pope's death. Just minutes ago, current Pope Benedict delivered a message of remembrance for the man he called his beloved predecessor.

And more bird flu in Egypt. The health ministry is reporting two sisters, one 18-months-old, the other six-years-old, have been infected. Now that makes eight human cases in that country. So far, two people have already died of the disease in Egypt.

Up first this hour, it is a homecoming that seemed impossible just a week ago. Jill Carroll, the young American journalist kidnapped back in January in Iraq, is now back on American soil. And we have new pictures of her reuniting with her family and friends, after her 82-day ordeal. These are pictures that we grabbed off the "Christian Science Monitor" Web site. Here she is with her mother and father and here are her mother and father and sister awaiting her arrival, they're looking out through an apartment window, where she's supposed to be holed up reuniting with them now. And here is a picture of her at the "Christian Science Monitor" headquarters in Boston.

Soon after she arrived, shortly after noon today. Here she is hugging her dad. She's the redhead there, that you can't see very much because her face is buried into his chest there. And here is a better picture of that smiling face, and those are the latest pictures that we just got from the "Christian Science Monitor" Web site.

We want to send it over to CNN senior correspondent Allan Chernoff who is in Boston. Allan, what a day for her.

CHERNOFF: Absolutely. Home at last for Jill Carroll, the writer for the "Christian Science Monitor." After nearly three months of captivity in Iraq, Jill Carroll arrived on U.S. soil at about 12:30 Eastern time.

Her Lufthansa flight touching down from Germany and a very tearful reunion here at the "Christian Science Monitor." After her flight arrived, there was a police-escorted motorcade coming all the way over here to the offices of the "Christian Science Monitor."

And here, waiting for her, her father, mother, and her twin sister, Katie. The father, just like many American dads, rolling it all on videotape, hopefully someday we'll be able to actually see that videotape of the tearful reunion.

But certainly, a very happy episode here. Of course, it seemed absolutely impossible only a week ago, she being released, of course, last Thursday in Baghdad. Then headed to Germany to the U.S. Air Force Base there. And from Germany, now to the United States, for Jill Carroll.

Now, after the reunion, she certainly does want to talk to the media, but not just yet. Jill Carroll has asked for time to heal. She said she needs some privacy with her family. The "Christian Science Monitor" saying that after Jill Carroll is ready, at that point, they do plan to have a press conference with Jill Carroll.

But they're not saying exactly when that will be and certainly you can understand, after her ordeal, certainly she needs time to heal, to get back to normal, and hopefully that will happen very quickly. Sophia?

CHOI: It is a time for healing for her, and her family. Thanks so much, Allan.

You know, Jill Carroll returned to the U.S. on a commercial flight from Germany and all eyes were on the high-profile passenger during that journey. CNN's Paula Hancocks was also on board and had a chance to chat with Carroll. PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She said, when I spoke to her, that she was very much looking forward to seeing her family. She said she had spoken to them an incredible amount over the last couple of days and she just could not wait.

When one of us asked, how long is it until the flight lands, she instantly answered it in hours and minutes. So you can imagine she was counting down the hours and minutes. She also said that she wanted to say thank you to those from the U.S. Air Base in Ramstein. She said the guys were fantastic and very helpful and she just seemed very relaxed, very at ease.

CHOI: And as Allan Chernoff mentioned just a few minutes ago, Carroll is now pleading for quiet time alone with her family and we thank Paula Hancocks for her report.

Two American helicopter pilots are presumed dead now in Iraq. The military says the crash was believed to have killed them and appears to be a shootdown. It happened yesterday afternoon, some 10 miles southwest of Baghdad. Recovery efforts are ongoing.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made the rounds in Baghdad today with an urgent message for Iraq's political leaders. Rice formed a one-two punch with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who got off the plane in a military helmet. CNN's Nic Robertson is in the Iraqi capital to tell us what the trip is all about. Hi, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Sophia. Well, it's all about pushing Iraq's politicians to form a new government. The first meeting the pair went to was with the president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, meeting with him, thanking him for all his efforts, trying to met meetings, to get politician together, to get them to make the compromises necessary to form that government.

They said most important that Iraq should have a leader that could bring all Iraqis into the fold. They stressed the importance of choosing a prime minister, the prime minister being a big stumbling block in that process at the moment.

The current incumbent Ibrahim al-Jaafari is the nominee to be the next prime minister as well. There is broad opposition for his nomination at this time. Indeed Condoleezza Rice said it's very important that they, that the politicians in Iraq make their agreements and compromises now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a really important time for the Iraqi leadership, for the Iraqi people, for Iraq itself, because they are in this process of government formation.

The opportunity now to have a national unity government that can really take on and help to resolve some of the tremendous challenges that are facing the Iraqi people. It's extremely important they get the government formed. And we thought, both Jack and I thought, that given the commitment of the United States and the United Kingdom to Iraq's future, the price that we've paid here, that it was important to come and deliver a message that the time has come to end these negotiations and to form a government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Well the real concern here is that every day the Iraqi government, the Iraqi politicians cannot agree who should be in the new government, who should be prime minister, who should have the top ministerial jobs. That's another day where the insurgency gets stronger, the sectarian violence picks up, the message loud and clear from Condoleezza Rice and Jack Straw today, make the compromises, form that government urgently. Sophia?

CHOI: Nick, we'll see if they take those warnings seriously. Nic Robertson, thanks so much.

Meantime, former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev has some, well, friendly advice for America -- go easy on the swagger. Gorbachev tells "Time" magazine, quote, "America is intoxicated by its position as the world's only superpower. It wants to impose its will, but America needs to get over that. It has responsibilities as well as power."

So as not to be misunderstood, perhaps, the former superpower rival adds, "I say this as a good friend."

Well the immigration debate returns to Capitol Hill this week. The Senate is focusing on a bill to tighten security along the Mexican border. It includes a contentious provision to create a guest worker program and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle warn, reaching a deal won't be easy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BILL FIRST (R), MAJORITY LEADER: With this temporary worker, the 12 million workers who are out there and the debate has matured, we don't have to give them amnesty.

But we can give them a period of time here and we're going to have to compromise and recognize that 12 million people is not a monolithic, it's not a uniform group.

Some have been here for 10 years, they're assimilated in our society and they may have a road to a green card, but some of those 12 million people here, in fact 40 percent, have been here for less than five years, need to be dealt in a different fashion.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), ILLINOIS: The notion that somehow these 12 million people are going to get on a bus and go back across the border, just isn't realistic and I think that what we have to acknowledge is that these are people who came to this country for the same reason that most of our parents, grandparents, great grandparents came to this country, in search for a better life. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CHOI: Well President Bush and his Mexican counterpart both support a guest worker program. If passed, it would allow illegal immigrants who already have jobs in the U.S. to keep working. President Vicente Fox spoke exclusively to CNN's Wolf Blitzer about his side of the immigration debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICENTE FOX, PRESIDENT, MEXICO: We are here to cooperate and do our part of the job, and exercise our clear responsibility that we have on the issue, which is building up opportunities for our people in Mexico. That is what we want at the very end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHOI: And more immigration worries, but this time over the other border. Some say a new passport plan could cost the U.S. economy nearly $1 billion, so why would politicians support it? We're going to explain.

Also, interest rates on the rise again. We're going to tell you if you need to get ready for a higher mortgage bill. And we've had plenty of rough weather across the U.S., and there could be much more in store. We'll bring you a complete forecast up next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I'm meteorologist Reynolds Wolf with your allergy report. And if you happen to suffer from the dust and the pollen, well, conditions aren't that bad for you in the Northern Plains and into the Great Lakes.

However, if you do suffer from allergies, life is not good for you along the Gulf Coast. Rough times for you through Alabama, into the Florida panhandle, Mississippi and into Louisiana. I'm Reynolds Wolf and that is your allergy report.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHOI: It's backing up sandbags in Fargo, North Dakota. Volunteers are shoring up the banks of the rising Red River, which could crest this week some 20 feet above flood stage. Parts of North Dakota and its neighbor Minnesota are feeling the effects of recent heavy rains and seasonal snow melt.

Meantime, authorities in Indiana believe a single tornado traveled 16 miles and left 40 homes either severely damaged or destroyed. The twister ravaged two counties near Indianapolis on Friday.

So here to tell us what's happening out there right now is meteorologist Bonnie Schneider. Bonnie, how is it looking out there? (WEATHER REPORT)

CHOI: Well tens of thousands of pilgrims flocked to the Vatican. Their quest, to honor the memory of Pope John Paul II on this, the one-year anniversary of the pontiff's death. We're going to give you a rare glimpse into his last days.

CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHOI: Thousands of people of faith from across the world, they descended on the Vatican City today to commemorate the passing of Pope John Paul II. It was exactly one year ago tonight that the pontiff's battle with his own mortality came to an end. CNN's Delia Gallagher looks back on those final hours.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN FAITH AND VALUES CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): February 24th, 2005. Just two weeks after his celebrated release, John Paul II was rushed back to the hospital.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Pope John Paul II, on a respirator after a serious medical setback.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF: Honestly, I think a lot of people were surprised that the pope had gone to the hospital the second time. The first question was, did he go home the first time too soon? Is this time worse? And so, obviously we all start drawing the worst-case scenarios.

GALLAGHER: This time, it was more serious. The pope needed a tracheotomy to breathe.

DR. RODOLFO PROJETTI, POPE'S MEDICAL TEAM (through translator): The procedure was absolutely necessary to save the Holy Father's life. All other concerns were secondary to performing the tracheotomy.

GALLAGHER: Doctor Projetti warned the pope this procedure could cost him his voice. Potentially disastrous for a man whose words were so vital. Cardinal Camillo Ruini was one of the pope's closest aides.

CARDINAL CAMILLO RUINI, CARDINAL VICAR OF ROME: He agreed. Because he knew that without this, he couldn't live. Couldn't go on. And he thought maybe I can learn to speak.

GALLAGHER: The 30-minute operation was kept secret until it was over. The condition of the pope's voice was a mystery.

But his written words upon awakening were telling. "To Mary," he wrote, "I once again entrust myself, totus tous." I'm totally yours.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHOI: And Delia Gallagher joins me now to talk more about this historic event today and to remember Pope John Paul II on this important day.

You know, you covered the Vatican for some seven years. You got to know those closest to the pope. As you watch the remembrances today, what was going through your mind?

GALLAGHER: Partially I wish I was there. I was there last year, and during that time, and you know, we all remember the pope from the window, when he tried to speak on Easter Sunday.

And again, he tried two days after that, because as the private secretary Stanislaw told me, when we went to interview him for this special, he said they had practiced this. It was something that the pope was capable of doing. And so they thought it was OK to put him up at the window and let him try to speak.

And then when he got up, as everybody saw, he couldn't do it, and so I think that's the moment that a lot of people say to me, really their heart just broke for this man, and that of course was also the last time that we ever saw him before he died.

CHOI: You know, this pope was such a popular pontiff, and he really reached out to his flock. It must have been so frustrating to him that he couldn't speak. He couldn't even speak to them.

GALLAGHER: Yes, I think certainly. I mean, I asked that question to many of the cardinals that I interviewed and I asked it to his private secretary, I asked it to his doctor, who was somebody that had never really spoken before on the record.

And I said what kind of patient was he? And he said, "Well he was impatient," but he said he wasn't impatient in the sense of a frustration with his illness. He was just impatient to get back out there, and so I think of course he was frustrated with the fact that his physical ability had been diminished because this was a man who was a sportsman. He was a skier, he was a mountain climber. He loved to go on vacation and be able to travel, so the fact that he had to stay in the Vatican.

One of my favorite stories that the private secretary told me was when he was at Christmas-time at the Vatican, you know, they wheeled him up to the window of his apartment so he could look out onto the square at the nativity scene and the people down in the square because he literally couldn't even move out of his chair. So they would have to wheel him out.

But they'd have to keep him far enough back from the window so that nobody in the square would sort of get a shock and see him at the window. So every so often, they'd wheel him up so he could even look out of the window. I mean, this was a man who couldn't even look out of his own window.

CHOI: It's so touching to hear those stories now. As we mentioned, Pope John Paul II, enormously popular. And now, in comes Pope Benedict. How difficult is it to fill those shoes?

GALLAGHER: Well I think it would probably be impossible if you tried to compare anybody to John Paul II. But the good thing about Pope Benedict and I think the thing that the cardinals wanted and certainly the thing that they told me in hindsight, is they wanted somebody who would not be compared to him.

And in a certain sense of the past year, we've seen that Pope Benedict is not really compared to Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict is compared to Cardinal Ratzinger. You know, he's compared to the reputation that he had beforehand.

So in a sense, it's almost a good thing that he came in with this kind of reputation as such a stalwart and what's he going to do, because that's what everybody's been focused on. They haven't been focused on how is he compared to John Paul II because they're two totally different personalities.

CHOI: Yes, he did have this reputation of being such a conservative and might be a little harsher to deal with. Has he lived up to that reputation?

GALLAGHER: Well I think the general consensus is no. I mean, this is a man whose first encyclical was on love. It wasn't on sort of adhering to traditional Catholic doctrine or something like that.

So in his role as cardinal, as the doctrine of the faith, he's had a certain role and he had a reputation for silencing dissident theologians and so on. But in his role as pope, we've seen a very different side of Joseph Ratzinger.

CHOI: Well, Delia, it was a joy talking with you and I know I'll see you in the next hour again. And for more on Pope John Paul II and his final days, please join us tonight at 7:00 Eastern for Delia's special, "CNN PRESENTS: The Last Days of Pope John Paul II."

Well the battle over immigration sent thousands of students into the streets last week and it's a scene this country has witnessed before.

In the '60s, Hispanic students led a protest for more equal treatment in schools. The events are being brought to the small screen in the HBO film "Walkout." Up next I'll speak with the director, Edward James Olmos.

But first the rise in interest rates means it's going to cost little more to borrow money these days. So what does that mean for your mortgage? Here's Gerri Willis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Federal Reserve did it again this week, raising interest rates for the 15th time in a row. And that's critical news if you have an adjustable rate mortgage.

Find out when your interest rate lock expires by checking those mortgage documents. By law, the information has to be in the very first few pages of your mortgage agreement. Also, look for caps. That's the maximum amount your rate can jump. With another rate hike anticipated, consider refinancing if your new mortgage amount eats too far into your monthly budget.

Also this week, SUVs are going on a diet, a gas diet. New fuel economy standards for SUVs and other light trucks were announced by the transportation department. They mandate an average of 24 miles per gallon by 2011. That's up from the current average of 22.5. Now it may not sound like much, but it is when you realize that small improvements will save an estimated 10.77 billion gallons of gas by 2011. Even so, you'll still be better off on your Schwinn than driving a Hummer.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHOI: Freed American hostage Jill Carroll finally comes home. Her plane touched down in Boston four hours ago. Carroll is having a private reunion with family and friends. These are photos you can see on the "Christian Science Monitor" Web site at csmonitor.com.

Iran's navy says it has successfully test fired an underwater missile, calling it the fastest in the world. The missile is reportedly designed to attack submarines.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes a surprise stop in Baghdad this morning a long with her British counterpart, Jack Straw. They are reportedly trying to jump start talks between Iraqi factions in hopes of forming a national unity government.

Just released by the Justice Department, more than 3.5 million American households were victimized by identity theft during a six- month period in 2004. The estimated loss $3.2 billion. Hope you weren't one of them.

On Capitol Hill, the debate over undocumented immigration is really heating up. It's pitting Republican against Republican over what's been proposed, what's possible, and what might work. It's time for a reality check. Here's CNN senior national correspondent John Roberts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The centerpiece of the house bill is a border fence much like this one. Trouble is, the barrier will only cover a third of the 2,000-mile frontier, pushing migrants critics say into dangerous remote deserts or rivers to cross the border. They add, show me a ten-foot fence and I'll show you a 12-foot ladder.

DEBORAH MEYERS, MIGRATION POLICY INSTITUTE: Our experience to date with the Feds is that migrants have gone around the fences or under the fences or have entered the United States at legal ports of entry using fraudulent documents. ROBERTS: The Senate would create a virtual wall with unmanned drones and cameras, doubling the number of border agents by 2011, but the border patrol has tripled in size in the past two decades. At the same time, the number of illegal immigrants skyrocketed. What's more, an estimated 40 percent of undocumented immigrants entered legally as visitors, then just never went home.

MEYERS: We do more of the same in terms of enforcement I'd expect more of the same in terms of continuing growth in the population.

ROBERTS: Finding a solution has split the Republican Party between moderate Senate Republicans who want to create a guest worker program and path to legal status.

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER, (R) PENNSYLVANIA: They will have to earn the status of staying in the country.

ROBERTS: And house members who reject anything that rewards people who broke the law to enter the United States.

REP. STEVE KING, (R) IOWA: Anybody that votes for an amnesty bill deserves to be branded with a scarlet letter "a" for amnesty.

ROBERTS: But is it amnesty or not? The proposal does pardon illegal immigrants, the very definition of amnesty, but to get there takes six years. Payment of fines and back taxes, a background check and English lessons, almost an earned amnesty. One that will likely never fly with hard-liners.

CHUCK TODD, EDITOR IN CHIEF, THE HOTLINE: Any current illegal alien is allowed to at some point get legal without having to leave the country, they will call it amnesty.

ROBERTS: The whole debate is perilous for Republicans. The harsh house position said hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants and their supporters came to the streets in protest. It was a frightening sight for a party that has worked furiously to court Hispanic voters. But immigration hawks were unmoved.

REP. VIRGIL GOODE JR, (R) VIRGINIA: If you are here illegally and want to fly the Mexican flag, go to Mexico to fly the Mexican flag.

ROBERTS: Certainly the immigration issue fires up the Republican base but is it worth the risk? A recent CNN poll found only 6 percent of Americans ranked illegal immigration as the most important problem facing the country today.

TODD: It may be much to due about nothing as far as swing voters are concerned. This is a big deal to a small group of people.

ROBERTS: And there are signs that the Republican house leadership is worried about a backlash. Speaker Dennis Hastert says he wants to be careful not to offend supporters of a guest worker program. So when might an immigration bill get done? Some Republicans think by the Fourth of July weekend, the August recess at the latest. As to what it will look like? No someone sure just yet.

John Roberts, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHOI: You know immigration protest sent Latino students into the streets out west this past week. Many might have been inspired by a 1968 incident depicted in the new HBO film "Walkout."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Schools get money from the state according to how many students are present. Empty chairs, empty pockets!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They need us!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what? A bunch of kids stay home sick?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, we show up and then we leave!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Huh?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Walkout.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Walk out!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A walkout.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHOI: And the director of "Walkout" Edward James Olmos joins me now from Los Angeles. It is so good to have you with us today.

EDWARD JAMES OLMOS, DIRECTOR, "WALKOUT:" Thank you, Sophia. It's a pleasure.

CHOI: Boy I have some questions for you. You know before this film premiered on HBO it was viewed by thousands of Latinos in some twenty cities, and it happened just weeks after Republican of the house passed a bill cracking down on immigration. That is quite a conscientious, so I got to ask you what crossed your minds when you saw students walking out of school last week?

OLMOS: I appreciated the fact that they were doing it peacefully and I appreciated the fact that they were doing it, period. The voice of the youth is really the one that has to be heard in this society. It's always been that way, since you know, since the beginning of time, actually. It's the one voice that isn't listened to enough. The youth are the hope of the future. The elder is the wisdom, wisdom, and hope. Hope without wisdom is hopeless. Wisdom without hope dies. So we kind of need each other a lot and we don't get a chance to listen to hope that much.

CHOI: Did you think that your movie might have inspired these young people?

OLMOS: Well f they saw the film, yes it did.

CHOI: An estimated 500,000 people took to the streets last weekend in L.A. what impact do you think that's having on lawmakers?

OLMOS: I don't think it's having very much of an impact. I don't think this kind of a situation will really generate any kind of a feeling to the Senate or the Congress. Even though they like to speak to it, they don't pay attention. If they did, they'd be listening to it loud and clear and know there's a huge problem and know that education is at the key of it, and that you know, there's going to be a lot more people walking out for a lot of reasons in this country.

CHOI: Let's talk a little bit about your film and I have some clips I want to share with our viewers as we do. Why did you feel it was important to recreate the student walkout of '68?

OLMOS: Because it wasn't documented when it happened. That's what led to us do it. In 1995, three major documentists, Hector Galon, Susan Rocha and Jesus Trevinia went into the archives of different news media and found the footage of the beatings of the children during that period of time that had never been seen on the screen before. So that was the main issue. The main issue was this had been a part of our history. It's the first civil rights movement done on the Latino in the United States of America. And I'm very proud of it.

CHOI: Well, how do you see this generation of Latinos? Are they much different than those that you portrayed from that '68 walkout?

OLMOS: Certainly we've grown. Our innocence is gone. We're much more in tuned with each other, because the ways of communication are much stronger. What the children have done since the movie came out on March 18th, they have taken the film off of the television, put it onto the Internet, and now they're distributing it throughout the entire country and they're watching it, and learning from the experiences that the kids did in 1968 and are using those experiences and that's why you're seeing them so organized so quickly.

CHOI: You know, the house bill that would make illegal entry into this country a felony was actually intended to help stop the flow of illegal immigrants. Where do you stand on that issue and also the guest worker program?

OLMOS: Well, I'm really feeling that this is such a difficult issue. Immigration has happened since there was more than two people on the planet. We've migrated from point a to point b to try to sustain us and make our lives a little bit better. Now that it's, continues to happen we're not the only country in the world it's happening in. It's happening in all over the world. Now that whole situation is not going to be stopped by large fences. It's not going to be stopped by putting up patrols on the fences. They'll find other ways to move from point a to point b.

What has to be stopped and what has to be understood is that you must create a first world condition in the general areas in which you live in. Obviously Mexico has to become a first world nation and Central America has to become a first world nation. Now you might say to me that's a little, that's really not up to us. If it was up to us we'd say gladly, be a first world nation but we have to help. Basically the corruption is so bad in Latin America that there's no way to make it a first world nation.

People who have the money and the monopolies in Latin America don't want any change there. They want it to continue the way it is. Therefore, the people that are really poor and over 60 percent of the people who live in Mexico right now live below the poverty line and that is a poverty line that nobody wants to live under. Nobody I know right here lives in a third world poverty system. We're in the first world poverty system, which is completely different.

CHOI: Well Edward James Olmos your new film "Walkout" is very timely and we look forward to watching it on HBO. Thank you so much for joining me.

OLMOS: Thank you, Sophia.

CHOI: And CNN's Lou Dobbs looks at the immigration debate in a special report from Mexico tonight. His "Broken Borders" special begins at 6:00 Eastern, 3:00 Pacific.

Al right so what about America's other border? You know the one up north. Well, up next, why a new plan aimed at boosting security might take a bite out of the economy.

Also --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're a happy family but some things have got to change immediately. I want my bedroom back. I want the diapers and the toys removed immediately.

CHOI: Does loving your children have to end your love life? Why one Michigan father is taking a stand for romance, on his roof.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the sound of the alarm clock makes you want to crawl further under the covers rather than actually wake up, there might be a solution. It's called sleeptracker. This wrist watch monitors sleep patterns recording the number of times the person is almost awake during the night. Then the watch can be programmed to wake you up at the best time.

LEE LOREE, PARTNER, INNOVATIVE SLEEP SOLUTIONS: Sleeptracker looks for light stages of sleep to make it easier to progress from actually being asleep to being awake, rather than a normal alarm clock.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It works like this. First set the to bedtime so that Sleeptracker knows when to start recording. Next, set the alarm time. Then you set a window of time before the actual alarm time. LOREE: If the Sleeptracker senses an almost awake moment within that window of time, it will go off early.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But even if the alarm does go off early, Loree says you'll still feel more awake than if the alarm went off at the later set time.

LOREE: Sleeptraker is ideal for anyone that wants a competitive edge. It allows you to get up in the morning and go to the gym feeling better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHOI: In our "CNN Security Watch" today, protecting the other border. Canadians are upset over a plan in Washington to require passports or similar papers to enter the U.S. from Canada and many on both sides of the northern border agree, it could be a pretty costly change.

Catherine Barrett has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHARINE BARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Twenty miles south of the Canadian border, even McDonald's flies the maple leaf flag. Commuters, shoppers, day-trippers just some of over a million people each day who cross the northern border, and yet fewer than half of all Canadians have passports. Just two in ten Americans. Businesses on both sides of the border worry, coming federal requirements that all who enter the United States must carry passports will cost them money.

KEN OPLINGER, WHATCOM CO. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: What we most fear is that people who don't currently have passports are not going to get them and stop making the trips over the border.

BARRETT: A Canadian study found those lost trips might cost the United States $785 million in business. Canada could lose $1.7 billion. Oplinger says requiring passports would cost his county several million in retail sales and taxes without making the country safer.

OPLINGER: You can go to North Dakota for instance and drive for 300 miles and not only not see another person, but not see another building. If I want to get into this country through Canada to do harm to us there are a number of places I can cross and not have to actually talk to someone and come up with identification.

BARRETT: He leads a group of Canadian and American businesses lobbying against the proposed new passport requirements. Instead of costly passports or pass cards, the group wants to make secure driver's licenses an acceptable travel documents. It's not just people but goods that could be snarled. Time is money in the trucking business. That industry fears the cost and red tape of getting passports for all its drivers.

PAUL LANDRY, BRITISH COLUMBIA TRUCKING ASSN: We are experiencing a driver shortage and a lot of drivers are very reluctant to cross the border simply because of the documentation requirements and that sort of thing.

BARRETT: Thousands of truck drivers now pass the border with a fast card, verifying their identity, nationality, even a background check. Trucking industry says it's just as secure as a passport.

PROF. DON APLER, SECURITY EXPERT: The real solution is not building bigger walls or creating the new impediments but the solution is closer, intelligence cooperation between the countries and making sure we have very confident, well-trained, smart border officials.

BARRETT: It was one such smart customs officer who caught the most notorious terrorist on the northwest border. He was caught six years ago in Washington State. He had with him a Canadian passport.

For CNN, I'm Katharine Barrett in Blaine, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHOI: And a reminder right here, CNN is committed to providing the most reliable coverage of news that affects your security. Stay tuned to CNN for the latest information day and night.

So do you think information you share with your tax preparer is confidential? Well, think again. In fact, a proposed IRS rule change could put your identity at risk. We'll tell you more next.

And then, some passionate picketing. This husband says he's on strike until his wife shows him a little more love and affection.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHOI: News across America now. In Indianapolis, college basketball's championship is set. Florida beat Cinderella team George Mason yesterday, setting up what could be the Gators first championship ever. They are going to face UCLA, the NCAA champs 11 times so far. The Bruins beat LSU in yesterday's nightcap.

In Chicago the world champion White Sox raised the championship banner tonight for the first time in 88 years. They're going to open the season against the Cleveland Indians. Opening day ceremonies pick up tomorrow when President Bush throws the first pitch in Cincinnati.

In San Francisco, well the message seems pretty clear as the steroids scandal hangs over major league baseball. Near AT&T Park where the Giants and controversial slugger Barry Bonds opens their home season this Thursday someone paid for this billboard and it simply says "Trade Barry!" hmmm.

Finally, the husband on strike. It's not a work stoppage really. It's more of an informational picket. Either way, why is this guy on his own roof? Our Jeanne Moos looks in on negotiations. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Some guys go through the roof when they get mad. This guy camped out on top of it to his wife's surprise.

VALENTINA WILSON, JAMES' WIFE: I was in the kitchen and I seen the ladder go up and I first thought he was going to check on the leaves or something and then I see the tent and I said what are you doing? He told me he was on strike.

MOOS: Hubby on strike reads the sign a top the Wilson home in Redford, Michigan.

JAMES WILSON, HUSBAND ON STRIKE: I want the children removed from our bedroom, ASAP.

MOOS: James Wilson has had it with his wife letting their kids sleep in the marital bed.

J. WILSON: The children are wreaking havoc on our intimacy I should say.

MOOS: His wife's not convinced he should say it. Valentina finds it all embarrassing.

J. WILSON: Not to me.

MOOS: First Valentina let their son sleep in their bed for about six months. Now he's older and has graduated to his own room but his baby sister is now sleeping with her parents in their bed and beside.

V. WILSON: I think it's important to spend time with the babies.

J. WILSON: I think it's important to spend time with the husband.

V. WILSON: He knows she doesn't go to sleep without me.

MOOS: James has started a Web site called "Husband on Strike" describes himself as the president of the Association of Desperate Husbands. And he's collected several thousand names on a petition calling for the immediate removal of the kids from the bedroom.

J. WILSON: We are a. happy family but some things have got to change immediately. I want my bedroom back. I want the diapers and the toys removed immediately.

V. WILSON: There's no negotiation. The bottle with me and the kids are really important.

MOOS: Though other parents haven't taken to the roof, they're familiar with the problem.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have actually seen people divorce over this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am a favorite of the husband. Make that clear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Give the guy a break.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When there's sick it's an exemption. You're married for a reason.

MOOS: No one we talked to sided with Valentina. James is a marketing consultant so he knows how to pull a stunt the press can't resist.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why is a husband on strike?

MOOS: James, by the way, isn't sleeping on the roof. He just hangs out there a few hours a day.

V. WILSON: We have a good marriage.

J. WILSON: Wonderful marriage. I love my wife. She's a great mom.

MOOS: His point may be -- honey, get rid of the kids, but he's starting to sound like one.

J. WILSON: You were with me before them.

V. WILSON: I know but --

J. WILSON: I come first.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHOI: Pretty funny. Maybe she thinks she'll get pregnant again if she's left alone with him, who knows.

Coming up CNN, home at last. A live report on Jill Carroll's stateside arrival.

But first today's big picture about our changing earth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The crater in Quebec, Canada is one of the Earth's largest and oldest impact craters; it is also the most visible from space. Known today as Lake Managua this crater formed more than 200 million years ago at the end of the Triassic period when an asteroid crashed into the Earth. Some scientists believe this impact was responsible for the massive extinction of 60 percent of all species at the time. Over time glacial erosion shrunk the crater by nearly a third of its original size.

It now measures 70 kilometers across. Today Lake Managua serves as a reservoir and is one of Quebec's most important regions for the Atlantic salmon fishing. That's the big picture of the impact crater.

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