Fred Thompson has just announced his own immigration plan today, and from the looks of it, he's the first major Republican candidate to realize that voters don't want amnesty or immediate mass deportations.

What they are willing to accept is attrition — lower the number of illegal aliens by going after those who shield them, give them jobs and give them the means to blend into society.

Here's the key paragraph:

"Attrition through Enforcement. Reduce the number of illegal aliens through increased enforcement against unauthorized alien workers and their employers. Without illegal employment opportunities available, fewer illegal aliens will attempt to enter the country, and many of those illegally in the country now likely will return home. Self-deportation can also be maximized by stepping up the enforcement levels of other existing immigration laws. This course of action offers a reasonable alternative to the false choices currently proposed to deal with the 12 million or more aliens already in the U.S. illegally: either arrest and deport them all, or give them all amnesty. Attrition through enforcement is a more reasonable and achievable solution, but this approach requires additional resources for enforcement and border security:"

— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times