What are current proposals to modify immigration policies?
There is some public sentiment for limiting future immigration by reducing the numerical limits for permitted entrants but this view does not presently have major support in the Congress or with the Administration. The key issues are being considered are: • Greater emphasis on employment-related immigration In the recent past the allotment of employment-related preference visas has not been filled because of numerical limits applicable to certain countries and because of other technical requirements. Legislation was recently passed to relax these provisions. • Amnesty and guest worker programs In January 2004, the Bush Administration proposed a solution to the undocumented problem in the form of a new guest worker program. In order to qualify under this plan, the workers must have a job offer and the employer must show no Americans wanted the job. Under the plan, undocumented workers who gained temporary-worker status would enjoy the rights and protections of legal workers. They could
