Illegal immigrants could earn citizenship under new Hagel plan


By OSKAR GARCIA
Friday, April 27, 2007 6:49 PM CDT

OMAHA, Neb. - 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."


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