Immigration Reform Fray
Professor Bill Ong Hing, a specialist in immigration law, commented in the Sacramento Business Journal on the current controversy of illegal immigration and potential guest-worker programs.
According to a recent national poll, more than two-thirds of Americans support a guest-worker program that allows illegal immigrants to become citizens, but an almost equal percentage wants to crack down on businesses that hire them. The article points out that mixed messages abound as momentum builds for comprehensive federal immigration reform following mid-term elections that gave Democrats control of Congress.
"Bush will get his guest-worker thing that may or may not lead to citizenship," Hing said. Because of the recent shift in power from the Republicans to the Democrats, "It's pretty safe to say that's going to happen in the next year."
In the House version, Hing saw a subtle change from support for family immigration categories to new ones that focus on special employment skills, a shift he doesn't support and hopes will not resurface. "It goes to the stereotype that family immigration doesn't contribute to the economy," he said. "In fact, family members all work, too."