It's avoiding the worst consequences for breaking the law I guess. But it's not a reward. Giving them citizenship ahead of all those people trying to get in legally would be a reward. These people are going to pay a price that people who didn't immigrate illegally won't.
The people waiting in line, filling out paper work to become naturalized citizens are not the problem because they are going through the proper process. It's the illegals who are already here that Pres Bush is addressing in his proposal. Therefore, it will be the illegals who are rewarded while those waiting in line, are going "what-the__????".
I am somewhat ruffled by this plan, but do want to read it in its entirety and mull it over and see if there's any logic to his new proposal that our existing INS laws could have addressed had they been enofrced all these years.