The bill, H.R. 5600, titled the Earned Legalization and Family Reunification Act of 2002, would allow many people who have been in the US without authorization for five years to apply for a green card.  To qualify, the person must have worked in the US for at least 520 days during the five-year period, and must have paid all necessary state and federal taxes.  They must not have been convicted of any felony, or three or more misdemeanors in the US, and must demonstrate basic citizenship skills (understanding English and US history and government) or that they are in a course of study to obtain such skills.

The bill also contains a provision for the adjustment of status for some undocumented students.  To qualify, the student must be under 25, have been in the US for at least five years, and at the time the adjustment application is filed must be enrolled at or above the seventh grade level, or at an institution of higher education.

It would also benefit millions of family members of current permanent residents by eliminating the annual limits on the number of visas that can be issued to their spouses, children and parents. 

Advocates say that allowing undocumented immigrant to legalize their status in the US will improve security by allowing the government to have accurate records of all people living in the US.  Also, as Gephardt said in support of the bill, it will allow the US to better use available resources by eliminating the need to track people who may be in the US unlawfully but who have no intent to harm the country.  Opponents say that it will simply allow undesirables to remain in the US permanently, and that it is simply a ploy for the Democrats to win the increasingly important Hispanic vote.  Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which would first vote on the bill, also criticized the bill for promising to add additional work to an already overburdened INS. 

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