Believe it or not, I SUPPORT Bush on this one. Even thought I don't think he came up with this one on his own!
First off, illegal immigrant who would like to gain resident status are subject to background checks here and sometimes in the country of origin. Just to give you an example. If an illegal alien ever got a DUI, (something thousand of AMERICAN get on a daily basis) and he request for residency, he will not EVER get that status and will be deported. Also, must illegal immigrants who will benefit from this are not the illegal who just cross the border yesterday. The INS will not give out any type of residency unless you have been in the country for 3 or more years, sometimes even 5 years. Obviously with a clean criminal record. Even a small felony will mean the deportation of the illegal immigrant.
Second, many of the immigrants who are going to benefit from this are still young kids and teenagers. Being illegal means they can not do anything but finish high school and get to work in contraction or some lower class job. If they were legal, many of this kids would go to college, would join the MILITARY and more. Now, can you penalize a kid/teenager because his/her parents brought them into an unknown country when they were young's? Should they pay the price of a future without education and or any other benefits because their parents took the risk of crossing the border? I believe NOT! Many of this kids don't even remember where they came from, this is all they KNOW. They will never leave even if this means work on the construction field for the rest of their life!
Third, illegal immigrants do not PAY TAXES because they are not allowed to work. Even thought they still work, they do not help in any way this country. If they were legal MOST of them would have no problem paying taxes. Some illegal who have their social security number do pay taxes. This is a FACT!
I live in South Florida, and have many friends who are illegal because of their parents brought them here when they were young's. We talk about the problems this has caused them, not being able to STUDY on a higher level. How they have to settle for lower class jobs because not even Burger King will hire them. They tell me, they will never go back to their home country. This is their country now, even if they are not wanted here. Many of them tell me they would join the MILITARY and fight for this country, but they can't even do that.
Just my two cents... FLAME me away!! ( If you are not an NATIVE AMERICAN... you or your ancestors are in some way or another are also an immigrant!)