That plus 12,000 new agents has to have a cost. Congress doesn't often pass a Bill without attached fiscal note. A way to document and provide legal status would also have to involve additional hires as well as printing several carloads of new forms. Enforcement seems to be lacking altogether, as it would also involve additional agents, i.e., budget.
These jerks just keep going around in circles. Adding 10,000 new Border Patrol agents (at 2,000 per year starting in 2006) has been the law since December 2004. (Not that it's been funded or implemented.)
Dec. 17, 2004: National Intelligence Reform Act Requires 10,000 New Border Patrol Agents - The National Intelligence Reform Act signed into law by Bush included the requirement to add 10,000 border patrol agents.
In February of 2005 Bush's proposed budget for fiscal year 2006 called for funding only 210 new border agents.
June 17, 2005: Cornyn/Kyl Bill Proposes Adding 10,000 Border Agents -- Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Jon Kyl ... expect to introduce legislation next month. They said in May that the $5 billion bill also would propose adding 10,000 agents along U.S. borders and a guest-worker program.
March 28, 2006 - DeWine calls for 12,000 additional border agents.
WHO IS KIDDING WHO?