Posting this because it's an Iranian website.
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New formula for US illegals
Fri, 18 May 2007 05:51:43
The Senate and White House reached a deal on bringing millions of illegal immigrants out of the shadows and securing US borders.

The pact would provide a path to permanent residency and citizenship for illegal workers, establish a merit-based points system for future immigrants and also create a temporary worker's program.

The bill, which emerged from exhaustive round-the-clock talks, and will be debated in the Senate next week, will provide 18,000 more border patrol agents, and scores of radar and camera towers on the US border with Mexico, according to AFP.

Republican and Democratic aides said the deal was intended to move the US immigration system to a merit-based system, rather than prioritizing claims for extended families of immigrants.

If it becomes law, the bill will set up a seven-part immigration system.

Those illegally in the United States before January 1, 2007 will be able to pay a 5,000 dollar fine and get a non-immigrant 'Z' visa which will allow them eventually to become eligible for a green card or permanent residency.

Criteria for green card allocation will also change, moving more towards merit-based immigrants on a points system from family-based immigration.

Points will be awarded for proficiency in the English language, graduate and post graduate education, excellence in science, technology and mathematics disciplines and for expertise in an area of high labor demand.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=10 ... id=3510203