President George W. Bush addressed the nation from the White House today to introduce a major immigration reform proposal that would have dramatic effects on the lives of millions of immigrants residing without legal status in the US. While the program does not goes as far as many immigration advocacy groups had hoped, the program will significantly alter the immigration system in the US and provide opportunities to legalize the status of an estimated 7 to 14 million people who lack legal status.

The President outlined a number of basic principles before unveiling his outline for a new visa program. First, he made it clear that American must control its borders, particularly in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Illegal border crossings need to be reduced by developing legal ways for workers to enter the US.

Second, our laws should serve our economic needs. The President indicated that our current immigration laws do not serve the needs of the US economy.

Third, citizenship is an unfair reward for those who break our laws. People who break immigration laws should not receive an unfairly easy path to permanent residency and citizenship and should not have an easier time getting a green card than people who have always complied with US immigration laws.

Finally, immigration reform should include incentives for temporary workers to leave the US.

The President then detailed a new temporary worker program that is designed to match "willing workers with willing employers". The program is designed to provide legal status to the millions of workers illegally working in the US as well as workers abroad who are seeking employment in the US.

The president also emphasized that a guest worker program should have several characteristics:

1. The program should be "clear and efficient" and employers should be able to get decisions quickly on bringing in a worker.

2. Workers in the US must have a job and workers abroad must have a job offer

3. A worker will be able to procure a three year renewable visa. The visa will be lost if the worker is not employed by the sponsoring employer or the worker breaks the law.

4. Employers will recruit Americans via a government-maintained web site and must first hire willing Americans available to do the job.

5. Employers will be required to report guest workers who leave their employment.

6. Workers in the US without status will pay a penalty fee to use the program; workers outside the US will not.

7. Guest workers will receive a card that will allow them to legally enter and exit the US; reentry bars currently in place for people overstaying visas or who enter the US without authorization would not apply.

8. Guest workers will have financial incentives to go home. They will get credit for social security payments and will be able to set up savings accounts from which they can draw when they leave the US.

9. Guest workers will be eligible to apply for green cards in the same way as they do now.

10. The annual allotment of green cards will be increased (though how high was not announced)

The White House also released a fact sheet outlining the President's proposal. The written summary emphasized that the program is NOT an amnesty and illegal aliens would be in no better position to get permanent residency than workers here legally. The fact sheet also noted that family members of guest workers would be able to remain legally in the US.

The President's plan received immediate praise from many Democrats though many are doubtful that the President is serious about getting legislation passed. Some pro-immigration groups were unhappy that the proposals only offer temporary solutions and no opportunity for acquiring permanent status. Immigration opponents are calling the proposal an amnesty.

Though the President enjoys considerable support in a Republican-controlled Congress, the proposal comes late in the legislative year and getting a bill passed anytime soon will be difficult.

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