People power wins hope for US illegal immigrants

[rawad_m]

A US immigration reform bill that would allow 12 million illegal immigrants to become citizens eventually and would create a guest worker program for up to 400,000 low-skilled immigrants each year has won the approval of a Senate panel.

The decision of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday to back the controversial bill 12-6 came as hundreds of thousands of immigration advocates marched nationwide, protesting against a House of Representatives policy to get tough on illegal immigration.

The vote cleared the first major hurdle to the most sweeping changes to immigration laws in two decades, although significant obstacles remain before any measure becomes law.

Its supporters credited the huge public rallies with persuading senators that a comprehensive approach to immigration is in order. The stage has now been set for an election-year battle between the Senate and the House.

The Democrat senator whose proposals formed the basis of the committee's final bill, Edward Kennedy, said: "Americans wanted fairness, and they got it this evening. The demonstrations at the grassroots had a powerful impact. This was a nation-shaking event."

Under the measure, the nation's 12 million undocumented immigrants would be able to apply for citizenship after six more years of residency if they hold stable jobs, pay back taxes and fines, maintain clean criminal records and learn English.

The bill would nearly double the number of border patrol agents in the next five years. It would authorise 400,000 new work visas for foreigners living in the US to work in jobs that employers say Americans don't want. The guest worker program would allow immigrants to work legally in the US for up to six years and apply for citizenship in their fourth year.

The guest worker program has been pushed by the President, George Bush, who warned on Monday against fear-mongering on the divisive issue.

"No one should play on people's fears or try to pit neighbours against each other," Mr Bush said. "No one should pretend that immigrants are a threat to American identity, because immigrants have shaped America's identity."

The vote surprised many observers who expected the Republican-controlled committee to approve a bill that would focus primarily on enforcing the nation's borders. Broad legislation is always difficult in an election year, and many across the country want fewer immigrants in the US, believing that immigrants have been taking jobs from Americans.

In any event, a bruising battle on the Senate floor is expected this week. Even if the Senate approves the bill, any measure that appears to provide amnesty to illegal immigrants faces fierce opposition in the House, which in December passed a bill that would erect a fence along the Mexican border and make it a crime to provide social services to undocumented immigrants.

The Boston Globe; Cox Newspapers

[Chief]

all i know is...im tired of canadians.

[rawad_m]

:lolsign: