As someone who works in a grassroots immigration reform group, it does sound familiar. Your suggestions are in tune with ours. Kris Kobach, someone we have been personally dealing with over the years on this issue, was appointed as Thompson's advisor on immigration. I can see his hand in this plan. It is the best I have seen even though Hunter and Tancredo have been better on this issue in terms of their voting records.
Here's hoping Thompson has had an epiphany on this issue and uses it appropriately against Hillary. It is her Achilles heel and could become the defining issue of the campaign along with health care. I am hoping that the election results in NoVA next week will send a strong message to the candiates of both parties that the public is energized and angry about the political elites' approach to the problem.