January 7 2004

Today President Bush unveiled his proposal for immigration reform that would address the fact that approximately 8 million undocumented persons live in the U.S. The proposal would offer legal status, as temporary workers, to the millions of undocumented workers now employed in the U.S. and to those in foreign countries who have job offers here.

The temporary worker program would allow a visa for three years, and possibly one renewal for another three years. The program would be open to undocumented immigrants, as long as they could prove they were working in the U.S. at the time the new policy becomes law. After joining the temporary worker program, employees could apply for permanent residency. Employers would also have to show they cannot find American workers to fill the jobs.

The Law Office of Michelle Gee wishes to remind readers that at this point, the plan is merely a proposal. It is not a law. There is currently nothing to "apply for".

It is the opinion of this office that while some sort of immigration reform will be passed into law prior to the 2004 presidential election, it will unlikely be the President's proposal presented today. Other bills pending in both houses of Congress are more likely to be passed because they do not resemble an "amnesty" to the same extent as the President's proposal. The President's proposal today was more likely an attempt to improve relations with Mexico's President, Vicente Fox. Today's proposal allows President Bush to show President Fox that he is fully committed to do something about the millions of undocumented Mexicans living and working peaceably in the U.S.