AP News, June 26th, 2007
Key elements of the bipartisan immigration measure:
_Allows illegal immigrants who were in the country as of Jan. 1, 2007, to gain a "Z visa" if they pay fees and fines and pass a background check. Allows them eventually to get on a path to citizenship after waiting in line, paying more fines, holding down jobs and learning English. Heads of households would have to return to their home countries to apply for green cards.
_Creates a new temporary worker program that would allow up to 200,000 guest-workers per year to enter on two-year Y visas that could be renewed twice, provided they returned to their home countries for a year between each stint. Sunsets the program after five years.
_Prevents the Y and Z visa programs from taking effect until security and enforcement triggers are met, including adding 20,000 border agents, 370 miles of fencing, 300 miles of vehicle barriers, and a new worker verification system to bar the hiring of illegal workers. Provides an immediate $4.4 billion to fund the measures.
_Creates an employment-based point system for new immigrants to qualify for green cards based on their education and skill level, and eliminates or limits visa preferences for family members of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.
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Some major amendments to be considered before a final vote:
_ Crack down on people who remain after expiration of their visas, require that that all illegal immigrant heads of household seeking lawful status return home as long as they meet a certain wealth threshold _ offered by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and Mel Martinez, R-Fla.
_ Limit legalization to unlawful immigrants who have been in the country four years or more, by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.
_ Require all adult illegal immigrants to return home within two years before gaining permanent lawful status, offered by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.
_ Award more points in the merit-based green card allocation system for family ties to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
_ Replace the worker identification program, narrowing the group of employees who businesses would have to check, by Sens. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Barack Obama, D-Ill.
_ Deny illegal immigrants the chance to get green cards, by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo.
