Bush ‘limited amnesty’ plan offers New Year hope for illegal immigrants

Illegal immigrants can look forward to a better year, with a proposed immigration reform program being drawn up by the Bush Administration.

The Bush plan is considered to be the most important immigration change in 18 years. While ruling out a "blanket amnesty," Bush said he would soon send recommendations to Congress for an "immigration policy that helps match any willing employer with any willing employee."

Bush’s policy statement, made during his year-end press conference last December 15, is a welcome development for the more than 8 to 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. It comes as a sort of a "wish come true" for many of these people, including thousands of Filipinos, who have been working and contributing to the economic growth of the U.S. through their labor and taxes, but are not getting the benefits being accorded citizens and legal residents.

Bush has not spelled out any of the details of the proposed program, but Washington officials said the President might adopt some ideas from proposals made earlier by Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, and other legislators.

Here are some of the proposals for the legalization of illegal immigrants, which may be included in the Bush plan:

1. Sen. McCain’s bill in the Senate would create a Web-based job registry, to be run by the Labor Department. Employers would post job opportunities that would be available first to U.S. workers, and then to prospective immigrants, who would be allowed to come under a new visa for temporary workers. The bill would impose a "fine" of $1,500 on illegal immigrants before they are granted legal residency.

2. A bill in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jim Kolbe (R-Arizona) and Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), seeks to create a new visa for previously undocumented workers, who would be allowed to live legally in the United States for three years. After this period, the workers could apply for a temporary worker visa, which would then be the path to a green card or legal residency. This way, those who entered legally would be given a three-year advantage.

3. DHS Secretary Ridge proposed in early December 2003 what he referred to as "some kind of legal status[ for undocumented workers in the country.

4. A bill introduced by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), called the DREAM Act, (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act), would give legal and permanent status to tens of thousands of children of undocumented immigrants. It recently passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting full vote by the Senate.

5. A joint proposal by both Republican and Democrat lawmakers would allow 500,000 undocumented farm workers to become legal U.S. residents. The bill is awaiting a vote in the Judiciary Committee.

6. A bill filed by Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-Missouri), called Earned Legalization and Family Reunification Act, would provide a route to legalization for undocumented workers who have been in the U.S. for five years, have a work history, and can pass a background check.

White House officials said Bush plans to present his proposals to Congress in the second week of January 2004, before he leaves for Monterrey, Mexico for a two-day summit of leaders of the Organization of American States.

Praying for the implementation of the Bush proposal and approval of the other legislations should top the list of many people’s New Year’s wishes for 2004. While there is hope that these proposals would push through next year and become law, I still would advise people who have not legalized their status, but who may have a chance to do it now, to seek the advice of a reputable attorney, who can analyze their situation and help them find a way to legalize their status. Again, these are all proposals right now, but let’s hope that they become law, so hardworking TNT’s can finally share in the "American Dream."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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