Immigration plan sets stage for a hot debate

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee detailed his plan for overhauling the nation's immigration laws Friday, setting the stage for a highly charged debate in the Senate this spring that could further split the Republican majority on an issue that already has pitted President Bush against many congressional Republicans.

In a draft bill that runs to more than 300 pages, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., called for the creation of a guest worker program that would temporarily legalize the status of millions of illegal workers now living in the United States. President Bush has said a guest worker program is needed to ensure a supply of workers for jobs Americans will not take.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, has co-sponsored legislation that is intended to reform immigration and reinforce national security.

Cannon supports temporary legal status for illegal immigrants with American agricultural jobs, thereby providing workers for U.S. farmers and providing the government with a list of the immigrants and where they are. Workers who followed stringent guidelines could earn citizenship status after several years.

Specter's plan includes tough law enforcement and border security measures, and would allow for an increase in some categories of legal immigration. The plan will be considered by the Judiciary Committee Thursday and could be debated by the full Senate before the end of March.

It immediately drew criticism both from advocates of a crackdown on illegal immigration and groups pushing for the government to provide illegal workers with a way to earn citizenship.

"It's a disaster," said Jack Martin, director of special programs for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group that advocates tighter controls on legal immigration. Martin said Specter's proposal would lead to amnesty for millions of illegal workers and would increase legal immigration.

Under Specter's plan, an estimated 8 million to 9 million illegal immigrants who entered the United States before Jan. 4, 2004, and are now employed could apply to temporarily legalize their status through the guest worker program. Qualified applicants could apply for a three-year work visa and one three-year extension before being required to return to their home countries. In addition, would-be immigrants would be allowed to apply for the program from their home countries.