Illegal immigrants could earn citizenship under new Hagel plan

Posted: Saturday, April 28, 2007

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Illegal immigrants would be judged on a points-based system, and those above a certain threshold would be put on a path to citizenship under a new plan introduced by U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel.

Hagel described his plan Friday as "digestible," and said immigration reform would be more feasible if problems surrounding the issue are tackled separately.

Years of disagreements have kept Congress from agreeing on a broad overhaul. Among the issues: the fate of 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country, securing the southern border and reforming legal immigration process.

"At a time when America's standing in the world is as low as it's ever been, this is one of those issues that the world is watching," Hagel told participants at an immigration conference in Omaha. "This is going to tell a lot about who we are, how we handle this issue."

Hagel introduced legislation to senators Thursday focused solely on illegal immigrants already living in the country.

"We're getting close to the time, at least in my opinion, where we're past just talking," Hagel said. "You can become so consumed with the process that you never ever get to a product."

Illegal immigrants would have to pay $2,000 in fines and fees, pass background checks, pay back taxes, show proficiency in the English language and U.S. history, and register with the Selective Service.

They would then be evaluated on factors including work history, education level, family, English proficiency, civic engagement and the amount of time they have been in the country.

Illegal immigrants who earn a certain number of points would qualify for a greencard, but would have to wait behind those who have already applied as a legal immigrant.

"This is not amnesty," Hagel said.

Many applauded the proposal but were concerned about its narrow focus and questioned what it would do to change anti-immigrant feelings.

Politicians "can't come out one day and tell us, 'You're my favorite Mexican,' and then turn around the next day and do something that's contrary to the benefit of our people," said Sam Franco, 69, of Lincoln, who has fought for immigrant rights with local groups.

Hagel said his proposal would have to be one part of a bigger overhaul plan.

"I think it has a lot of tread," said Lourdes Gouveia, director of the Latino/Latin American Studies Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "He doesn't do these things on a whim."

The conference Friday was organized by the Latino/Latin American Studies Department at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and participants consisted mostly of university academics who study immigration.

Gouveia said in her opening address that immigrants in Nebraska feel mostly ignored or neglected by the state's policymakers, and the state's overall climate has become increasingly hostile toward immigrants.

University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken, a panelist, pointed to education as one way to embrace immigrants. He pointed to a bill last year that grants in-state tuition to children who came to the United States when their parents immigrated illegally.

Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed that bill in April 2006, but lawmakers overrode the veto to enact the measure.

Heineman said Friday he had not changed his views on the tuition law.

"Occasionally we have philosophical differences," Heineman said. "As governor, I'm here to enforce the laws of the land and if someone's here illegally, that's hard to justify."

Story Comments

Bobby wrote on May 2, 2007 11:04 PM:

" When will they stop asking for free services, why never. These people have a socialist mindset. Americans who continue to ignore illegal immigration are going to be schocked beyond belief when they see their taxes going up, up, up. Better support someone who cares about citizens. Not Hillary. Not Obama. Not Giuliani. Not Brownback. Not Edwards. There all for robbing Americans citizens to pay for the social benefits of millins upon millions of people who have no business being here. Send some clean money, to Team Tancredo.org, because this Congressman is the only person with the insight to know what illegal immigraation is going to do. He and his coalition stopped amnesty for border criminals last year. Better tell your friends and relatives to think about who they vote for. Someone concerned about Ameicans or millions from a foreign country that is reported to be the 10th richest country in resources in the world.(Mexico) "

SC Residen wrote on May 1, 2007 5:42 PM:

" I see immigrants are asking for a "path to citizenship" even if they came here illegally. What else do they want, free health insurance, free education to teach their children English, etc? When will they stop? "

Larry Brown wrote on Apr 29, 2007 5:15 PM:

" There will come a judgement day for Senator Chuck "open borders" Hagel and his crusade to give amnesty to foreigners who have broken U.S. immigration, labor, and tax laws and then to reward them with U.S. citizenship. That judgement day will be the next time he faces citizens on election day. Senator Hagel has preposterous visions of being the next President of the United States. Hagel is living in a dream world on so many levels. "

Diogenes wrote on Apr 29, 2007 4:14 PM:

" "At a time when America's standing in the world is as low as it's ever been, this is one of those issues that the world is watching," Hagel told participants at an immigration conference in Omaha. "This is going to tell a lot about who we are, how we handle this issue." So Hagel thinks we should kowtow to the illegal alien lobby so as to earn PC brownie points with the rest of the world. Is he serious? Bestowing citizenship as a reward for flouting American law would tell a lot about who we are, all right. It will announce to the world that we lack the moral will to enforce our laws, control our borders and defend our national sovereignty. If that doesn't constitute abject and craven surrender to lawlessness, I don't who what does. And proponents of this idiocy dare call it 'reform'? Whoever described patriotism as "the last refuge of the scoundrel" did not ponder the possibilities in the word "reform". "

Yeh Ling-Ling wrote on Apr 28, 2007 6:52 PM:

" Pro-amnesty Americans should heed the following: On 7/7/06, Mexican American professor Armando Navarro, who has organized many pro-illegal alien rallies, was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying, "A new majority is forming. Everything will change. The White House will be within our reach..." According to the 2000 Census, the U.S. population had increased by about 13 percent since 1990, but those who identified themselves as Mexican had grown by 53 percent. If this trend continues, within a few decades the majority of people in the U.S. could very well be of Mexican descent. During last spring's massive demonstrations, many protesters waved Mexican flags and pressured the U.S. with demands identical to Mexico's. If another amnesty is granted, millions of legalized aliens will become potential voters. They could add 100 million U.S. and foreign-born relatives to the U.S. over the next 20 years who will also be potential voters (and will use energy, need education, health care and other social services.) How likely will it be that our immigration laws will be seriously enforced? What is Mexico's real intent? Sincerely, Yeh Ling-Ling Oakland, CA "