U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, has proposed an agricultural worker program that would give an estimated 200,000 to 800,000 illegal immigrants temporary worker visas, and give them a means to gain permanent status.

Cannon said illegal immigrants contribute about $30 billion a year to the Social Security system but never benefit from it. They also pay sales, property and income taxes, he said.

Perlich said some form of legal status would provide a level of stability in households in which children are citizens, but their parents are illegal immigrants. It would also create a more stable work force, while giving illegal immigrants the access to social programs they're paying into.

Rather than amnesty, Camarota suggests tightening border security, enforcing the nation's immigration laws and reducing the numbers of illegal aliens in the nation. He suggests tougher enforcement would have the end effect of saving taxpayers money.

Another cost of legalizing immigrants: education, Camarota said. Federal education costs would rise in large part because of access to federal grants and subsidized loans for higher education.

"Education is an investment in people," Perlich said. Immigrants traditionally "have taken jobs in mines and railroads, and their children, having access to education, build on their abilities."

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Contributing: Rodger Hardy.

E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com

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