MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

White House/Senate deal on immigration and border security

The White House and key senators agreed Thursday to reshape United States immigration laws and give millions of illegal immigrants' legal status, a compromise that carries heavy potential risks because it still must pass the test of approval.

The US Senate is scheduled to begin an emotional and wide-ranging debate on the issue next week that promises to test the unlikely coalition that produced the deal. Almost instantly, the plan brought vehement criticism from both sides of the immigration issue, including liberals who called it unfair and unworkable and conservatives who branded it an overly permissive "amnesty." The proposal constitutes a far-reaching change in the immigration system that would admit future arrivals seeking to put down roots in the U.S. based on their skills, education levels and job experience, limiting the importance of family ties. A new class of guest workers would be allowed in temporarily, but only after borders were fortified and measures were in place to ensure the rules were followed. Bush said the proposal would "help enforce our borders but equally importantly, it'll treat people with respect". "This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty but without animosity," Bush said. Senator Edward Kennedy hailed it as "the best possible chance we will have in years to secure our borders and bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America." The proposed agreement would allow illegal immigrants to come forward and obtain a "Z visa" and - after paying fees and a 5,000 dollars fine - ultimately get on track for permanent residency, which could take between eight and 13 years. Heads of households would have to return to their home countries first. They could come forward right away to claim a probationary card that would let them live and work legally in the U.S., but could not begin the path to permanent residency or citizenship until border security improvements and the high-tech worker identification program were completed. A new crop of low-skilled guest workers would have to return home after stints of two years. They could renew their visas twice, but would be required to leave for a year in between each time. If they wanted to stay in the U.S. permanently, they would have to apply under the point system for a limited pool of green cards.