Millions To Be Made Citizens

In a striking reach across party lines, the White House and key lawmakers agreed Thursday on a sweeping immigration plan to grant legal status to twelve million illegal immigrants.

 

Bush Sees His Legacy

President Bush said the proposal would "help enforce our borders but equally importantly, it'll treat people with respect."

Chrysler's Newest Worker

The proposal constitutes a far-reaching change in the immigration system that would admit future arrivals seeking to put down roots in the U.S. based on their skills, education levels and job experience, limiting the importance of family ties. A new class of guest workers would be allowed in temporarily.
 

Everyone Is Thrilled

Senators hailed it as "the best possible chance we will have in years to secure our borders and bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America."

Skilled Workers Get Preference

The proposed agreement would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa", pay some fees, and get on track for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. 

They could come forward right away to claim a probationary card that would let them live and work legally in the U.S.

Low Skill Workers

A new crop of low-skilled guest workers would have to return home after stints of two years. They could renew their visas twice, but would be required to leave for a year in between each time. If they wanted to stay in the U.S. permanently, they would have to apply under the point system for a limited pool of green cards.

John Sweeny Head Of The AFL-CIO Endorses The New Bill

"Without a real path to legalization, the program will exclude millions of workers and thus ensure that America will have two classes of workers, only one of which can exercise workplace rights," said John J. Sweeney, the AFL-CIO president.
 

Mexicans Want More

Jorge Mursuli of People For the American Way said it a good starting point, but he wants the ability of the legalized twelve million Mexicans to bring in their families.  
 

Program Too Harsh

Liberals, don't want future arrivals to be judged on their skills, they want the Present twelve million to be able to bring their families in.  They also oppose the terms of a new guest worker program in which low-skilled immigrants would be forced to leave the country after temporary stints and would have limited opportunities to stay and get on a path to permanent legalization.