Nearly 11 million illegal immigrants are believed to be in the United States. The compromise would require those who have lived in the country two years or less — between 1 million and 2 million — to return home, while the remainder would be eligible for legalization based on their length of time in the United States.

The 7 million to 8 million illegal immigrants who have lived in the country five years or longer would be eligible for green cards to become permanent residents. Those who have been in the United States for two to five years — an estimated 3 million — would be required to go to one of 20 ports of entry to enroll in a temporary guest-worker program, putting them on track to apply for green cards.

The proposal would amend legislation written by Senators John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., which would have allowed most of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the country to embark on a path toward legal status.

The proposed compromise would also require illegal immigrants to register within six months after the legislation takes effect. Immigrants in the two-to-five-year group would have three years to enter the temporary worker program, but they would be required to pay fines if they failed to apply within a year.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn, announced the compromise in an attempt to move the Senate out of a stalemate over a comprehensive measure that would put virtually all illegal immigrants on a path toward permanent residency and citizenship.

That measure, passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 27, would also create a temporary guest-worker program to bring as many as 400,000 low-skilled workers into the United States each year, enabling U.S. businesses to confront what they say is a chronic labor shortage in low-paying jobs normally bypassed by U.S. citizens.

The compromise emerged from hours of behind-the-scenes discussions involving several Republican Senators. The measure, which would face its first vote Friday, was designed to soften Republican objections to legalization without alienating Democrats, most of whom support granting citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Senators hope to complete action on immigration legislation before Congress quits work Friday to begin a two-week Easter recess.

President Bush, who has called for an overhaul of the nation’s immigration system, wants Congress to enact a three-pronged plan that strengthens the border, bolsters workplace enforcement of immigration laws and creates a guest-worker program to provide businesses with a steady source of low-skilled workers to take jobs normally bypassed by U.S. workers.

Under Bush’s concept of a guest-worker program, foreign workers would hold temporary visas and return home after several years. He said the program should not provide for automatic citizenship. (DesPardes News Report)

"Getting the workers (legally) from Mexico, those are the workers who have a fantastic work ethic. If I had five applicants in front of me and could hire only two, I would pick the guys from Mexico and would pay them more," said Joanne Harden, who owns Mortellaro's Nursery in San Antonio, Texas.

Mexican workers in the United States sent home a record $20 billion to relatives and friends last year. In 2004, that figure was $16 billion. Remittance is Mexico's second largest source of foreign currency after oil exports according to the country's central bank.

US employers like Harden say they support federal legislation that would create guest worker programs allowing citizens from other countries to fill the jobs they say Americans don't want to do.

(DesPardes News Report)