Illegal immigrants who can prove they have jobs can stay in the country legally for three years.And those who can't will just keep doing what they are doing.
In that period, they can bring family members to the United States and enjoy rights now reserved for Americans and for foreigners with permanent-resident status, including Social Security benefits.
They already bring their family members and legal status means paying taxes. This will be a step down for them.
"It will protect the rights of illegal workers who now live in the shadows and are fearful of coming out of the shadows for fear of deportation," a White House official said yesterday.
With only 130,000 deportations a year these 10 million illegals have little to fear and they don't live in the shadows.
Mr. Bush's guest-worker proposal, which Congress must approve, would be "temporary in nature. One must go home upon conclusion of the program."
Sounds like a major disincentive to sign up for the program. But wait ...
During the three-year period, the aliens would have permission to leave the country and come back as needed, and could renew their three-year involvement in the program, the official said.
I see; so they'll be permanently temporary!?!
But the official said the two programs -- temporary-work status and permanent residence -- essentially will be "two separate doors" foreign workers must walk through.
No problemo. They are already skilled at jumping fences to avoid walking through doors.
"The temporary-worker program is a way to work here legally short of the United States citizenship, under a certain set of conditions. ... And then door number two is the normal naturalization process, which includes permanent legal status. We're trying not to blur those two things together."
You're doing a bangup job of it for not trying.
While acquiring a green card can take as long as six years, the official said illegal aliens can re-enroll for the new Bush program, which means that many will be able to remain in the United States until they get permanent-resident status.
Ahh! Now I see why you say you're not blurring the line. You're obliterating it!
Illegal aliens who enroll in the program will have no fear of deportation and can come and go between the United States and their country of citizenship "as they wish," a White House official said.
They already do. I think this White House official needs to take a walk and clear his head.
May I suggest Ft. Marcy Park?
Why would any illegal want to enter this program when, if they fly under the radar, they can stay here indefinitely as an illegal? They aren't tracked now, and they wouldn't be tracked in the future. With the program, the government will know where they are and press them to leave in 3 years.