Congress Debates Changes to U.S. Immigration Laws 

The United States is planning to change its immigration laws. Most people think it will be hard to agree on a policy.

At least four bills on immigration law were introduced in Congress.  Congress is expected to act in late March or early April on a new policy.

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania says he has seen almost no agreement on anything when it comes to the issue of immigration.

“Emotions are running at an all-time high,” Specter said. Specter is a Republican. He also is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“We are approaching a gigantic (very large) task,” Specter said March 2. One of the bills was introduced by Specter. The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to debate and make changes to the bill.

President George Bush will decide whether to sign any legislation that is approved by the Congress. Two separate bodies make up Congress. The House of Representatives is one. The Senate is the other.

Many Republicans oppose Bush plan

Republicans control both houses of Congress. Bush also is a Republican. However, many in his political party do not agree with him on immigration. Specter’s bill is close to what Bush wants. 

The House of Representatives passed an immigration bill last year. The House version is stronger than Specter’s plan.

Bush wants a plan that would give temporary worker rights to illegal immigrants. Other Republicans are more socially conservative.

They have joined with Republicans from Border States to oppose plans for a “guest worker” program. Some of them also want illegal immigrants to return to their home countries before they can come back legally.

Many Republicans oppose amnesty

Many Republicans do not want to give illegal immigrants amnesty. Amnesty allows the government to forgive a person for doing something wrong.

Senator Charles Grassley is against amnesty. The Iowa Republican is against Specter’s plan. Specter’s plan would let some illegal immigrants stay in the country temporarily.

“If it looks, acts and smells like amnesty, then it is amnesty,” Grassley said. 

Wisconsin Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold support a bill by Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy and Arizona Senator John McCain. The Kennedy-McCain bill would make illegal immigrants eligible to stay permanently. The bill also requires them to pay back taxes and learn English.  

12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.

A recent study said 12 million people are living in the United States illegally. The study said one of every 20 workers is an illegal resident. Immigrants fill jobs that Americans cannot or will not do. Some observers say the economy needs them to operate.

Most illegal immigrants are from Mexico. However, authorities say they are worried because there is an increase in people coming illegally from other nations.

People who are born in the U.S. are automatically citizens. People who enter the U.S. without permission of the federal government are illegal immigrants. 

People from other countries can get proper permission to live in the United States. However, the government allows only a certain number of people to enter this way.