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March 28, 2006


The debate on immigration reform has sparked protests across the country from Los Angeles, where demonstrators shut down the freeway, to Washington, where clergy handcuffed themselves on the steps of the Capitol but this is as much of a national problem, as it is a local one.

Raphael Martins has been living in the United States legally since 1993 and says allowing illegal immigrants to stay, after all he's been through, is an outrage.

Spending time and money is a luxury that most illegal aliens do not have. To many, applying for a green card means passing up job opportunities and waiting patiently for the paperwork to come.

“I think that's why it encourages so many people to come across the border illegally, because it's so long and tedious,” Martins said.

Raphael Martins came to the United States 13 years ago and has experienced firsthand the ups and downs in legality, one of many reasons he is opposed to a guest worker program.

“What we're saying is, ‘By the way you came here under certain circumstances but we're going forgive you and give you amnesty. But you can stay here and we'll deal with the problem with future comers.’ To me that's a slap,” Martins said.

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee knew they had their work cut out for them, and are describing the situation as anything but letting illegal aliens off the hook.

“It's not amnesty; amnesty is forgiveness. This is a payment of a fine, admission of guilt working for years, this is learning English.”

Regardless, many say illegal immigrants should not be permitted to stay, but plans of enhancing boarder patrol should continue. Representative Sensenbrenner agreed.

“If we don't enforce the law, we're going to get more and more illegal immigration flooding our hospitals, flooding our schools, and causing a breakdown of our social services,” said Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., a Republican from Wisconsin.

President Bush supports a temporary guest worker program that would legalize the nation's immigrants, but does not include a path to citizenship.

The Senate will continue to work on this bill, one that may allow 11 million illegal immigrants in the country the opportunity to stay.