How many illegal immigrants will be eligible for the bill’s amnesty provisions?
Proponents of amnesty insist there are 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., a lowball figure that has remained static in the media for the past five years. Detailed studies have put the figure at potentially three times that number, but amnesty’s supporters know that acknowledging there may be more than 30 million illegal immigrants in the country is deadly to their agenda—so they cling to the 12 million figure. It’s important to remember that three times the anticipated number of illegal immigrants stepped forward to claim amnesty in 1986. That vast underestimate will most likely be repeated. How many illegal immigrants will be deported under immigration reform? Amnesty supporters like Senator John McCain routinely say that a compromise over immigration reform will mean many illegal immigrants will receive legal status, while many others will be deported for not meeting certain criteria. Yet even fairly liberal standards requiring multi-years residence, gainful employment, etc.,
