Protesters by the dozens carried signs, like "Security First, Amnesty Never," outside the Jackson office of Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott on Thursday. It was a shot at proposed legislation and Sen. Lott, who says the bill is not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

"Sen. Lott has stated people in Mississippi have no problems with this bill, but as you see now, we are a cross section of Mississippi and we are very opposed to this bill," said Kim Wade of the Mississippi Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement, or MFIRE.

Senate Bill 1348 adds more border patrol agents and erects 300 miles of barriers. A temporary worker program would require workers to go home after two years and re-register.

And the 12 million or so illegal aliens already here could have the chance to become citizens. That's the part of the bill that has so many taking a hard stand against it.

"They're breaking the law just by being here," said protester Robbie Hughes. "And it's costing Mississippi a tremendous amount of dollars."

About $62 million a year, according to State Auditor Phil Bryant. His latest figures show 122,000 illegal immigrants in Mississippi, leaving taxpayers with the bill for health care, education, and public safety.

Lott says it would be impossible to locate and deport all the illegal aliens already in the U.S. He said "they should have to pay a fine, undergo background checks, be constantly employed and pay taxes, and go to the back of the line for citizenship papers, all required in this bill. And if I can make these provisions even stronger, I will."

"If nothing else, take a step back and give us time to go over the bill in detail and hash it out. But at this point, there's no way this bill can be supported in any form or fashion," said Wade.

The rally was co-sponsored by Eagle Forum of Mississippi and the Mississippi Federation for Immigration Reform and Enforcement.