For your info:

For
Immediate Release

Office
of the Press Secretary

May
17, 2007

Fact
Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform

Administration
And Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Comprehensive
Immigration

Reform

President
Bush Discusses Comprehensive Immigration Bill

In
Focus: Immigration

Today,
Administration Officials And A Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reached Agreement On
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation. The proposal includes:

 

·        
Putting Border Security And Enforcement First: Border
security and worksite-enforcement benchmarks must be met before other elements
of the proposal are implemented.

·        
Providing Tools For Employers To Verify The Eligibility Of The
Workers They Hire: Employers will be required to verify the work eligibility of all
employees using an employment eligibility verification system, while all workers
will be required to present stronger and more verifiable identification
documents. Tough new anti-fraud measures will be implemented and stiff penalties
imposed on employers who break the law. 

·        
Creating A Temporary Worker Program: To
relieve pressure on the border and provide a lawful way to meet the needs of our
economy, the proposal creates a temporary worker program to fill jobs Americans
are not doing. To ensure this program is truly "temporary," workers
will be limited to three two-year terms, with at least a year spent outside the
United States between each term. Temporary workers will be allowed to bring
immediate family members only if they have the financial ability to support them
and they are covered by health insurance.

·        
No Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants: Illegal
immigrants who come out of the shadows will be given probationary status. Once
the border security and enforcement benchmarks are met, they must pass a
background check, remain employed, maintain a clean criminal record, pay a
$1,000 fine, and receive a counterfeit-proof biometric card to apply for a work
visa or "Z visa." Some years later, these Z visa holders will be
eligible to apply for a green card, but only after paying an additional $4,000
fine; completing accelerated English requirements; getting in line while the
current backlog clears; returning to their home country to file their green card
application; and demonstrating merit under the merit-based system.

·        
Strengthening The Assimilation Of New Immigrants: The
proposal declares that English is the language of the United States and calls on
the United States Government to preserve and enhance it, as well as enacting
accelerated English requirements for many immigrants. In addition, the DHS
Office of Citizenship will be expanded to include coordinating assimilation
efforts in its mission, and the Education Secretary will make an English
instruction program freely available over the Internet.

·        
Establishing A Merit System For Future Immigration: The
proposal establishes a new merit-based system to select future immigrants based
on the skills and attributes they will bring to the United States. Under the
merit-based system, future immigrants applying for permanent residency in the
U.S. will be assigned points for skills, education, and other attributes that
further our national interest including: ability to speak English; level of
schooling, including added points for training in science, math, and technology;
job offer in a specialty or high-demand field; employer endorsement; and family
ties to the U.S.

·        
Ending Chain Migration: The immigration system would be reformed to
better balance the importance of family connections with the economic needs of
our country by replacing the current system, where nearly two-thirds of green
cards are awarded to relatives of U.S. citizens, with a system in which future
family

 

White
House News

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070517-7.html
5/18/2007

immigration
will focus on the nuclear family and parents.

�� Clearing The Family Backlog In Eight Years: Millions
of family members of U.S. citizens now wait years

in
line for a green card, with some waits estimated at as long as 30 years. Family
members who have

applied
legally and have lawfully waited their turn in line will receive their green
card within eight years.

Putting
Border Security And Enforcement First

Border
Security And Worksite Enforcement Benchmarks Must Be Met Before A Temporary
Worker

Program
Is Implemented. These
benchmarks include:

�� Miles of fence constructed.

�� Number of Border Patrol Agents hired.

�� "Catch and Return" continues at the border.

�� Employment Eligibility Verification System ready to process all new
hires.

The
Proposal Establishes New Penalties For Border Crimes And Gives The Border Patrol
Additional Tools

To
Stop Illegal Border Crossings. Through the deployment of additional Border Patrol agents with
supporting

equipment,
the construction of additional fencing and vehicle barriers in targeted areas,
and the development of a

proper
mix of sensors, radar, and cameras, the proposal establishes a true commitment
to securing our borders.

Providing
Tools For Employers To Verify The Eligibility Of The Workers They Hire

Employers
Will Be Required To Verify The Work Eligibility Of All Employees, While All
Workers Will Be

Required
To Present Stronger And More Verifiable Identification Documents. Tough
new anti-fraud

measures
will be implemented and stiff penalties imposed on employers who break the law.

�� The Employment Eligibility Verification System will allow for
real-time verification of employee photos and

documents.

�� The Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security
Administration will be able to share "nomatch"

information
to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot use the Social Security information of

Americans
to pose as legal workers.

�� Employer audits will serve as an additional check on employer
compliance with the system.

Creating
A Temporary Worker Program

To
Relieve Pressure On The Border And Provide A Lawful Channel To Meet The Needs Of
Our Economy,

The
Proposal Creates A Temporary Worker Program. The program allows workers to enter the country to fill

jobs
that Americans are not doing. The temporary worker program:

�� Protects American workers by requiring U.S. employers to advertise
the job in the United States at a

competitive
wage before hiring a temporary worker.

�� Provides additional labor protections for temporary worker program
participants.

�� Allows temporary workers to enter the United States to work for
three two-year terms, with at least a year

spent
outside the United States between each term.

�� Sets a cap of 400,000 on the temporary worker program, which can be
adjusted up or down in the future

depending
on demand.

�� Requires temporary workers who want to bring their immediate family
to show that they have the financial

means
to support them and that they are covered by health insurance.

�� Recognizes the unique needs of agriculture by establishing a
separate seasonal agriculture component

under
the temporary worker program.

No
Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants

Fact
Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform Page 2 of 4

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070517-7.html
5/18/2007

Illegal
Immigrants Who Come Out Of The Shadows Will Be Given Probationary Status. To
maintain their

probationary
status, they must pass a background check, remain employed, and maintain a clean
criminal

record.

Illegal
Immigrants Who Fulfill Their Probationary Requirements Can Apply For A Z Card,
Which Will

Enable
Them To Live, Work, And Travel Freely. Z card holders will be required to pay a $1,000 fine, meet

accelerated
English and civics requirements, remain employed, and renew their visa every
four years.

Z
Card Holders Will Have An Opportunity To Apply For A Green Card, But Only After:

�� Paying an additional $4,000 fine,

�� Applying at the back of the line and waiting until the current
backlog is cleared,

�� Returning to their home country to file their green card
application, and

�� Demonstrating merit under the merit-based system.

Strengthening
The Assimilation Of New Immigrants

The
Proposal Declares That English Is The Language Of The United States And Calls On
The United

States
Government To Preserve And Enhance It, As Well As Enacting Accelerated English
Requirements

For
Some Immigrants. The
success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our
society

and
embrace our common identity as Americans – our shared ideals, an appreciation
of our history, and an ability

to
speak and write the English language. Therefore, the Secretary of Education is
directed to make an English

instruction
program freely available over the Internet. The DHS Office of Citizenship is
expanded to include

coordinating
assimilation efforts in its mission, and additional funding is authorized for
the Office.

Establishing
A Merit System For Future Immigration

The
Proposal Establishes A New Merit-Based System To Select Future Immigrants Based
On The Skills

And
Attributes They Will Bring To The United States. A merit system is used by many other countries.

�� Under The Merit System, Future Immigrants Applying For Permanent
Residency In The United

States
Will Be Assigned Points For Skills, Education, Employment Background And Other

Attributes
That Further Our National Interest. These skills include:

�� Ability to speak English.

�� Level of schooling, including added points for training in science,
math, and technology.

�� Job offer in a high-demand field.

�� Work experience in the United States.

�� Employer endorsement.

�� Family ties to the United States.

Ending
Chain Migration

In
Place Of The Current System Where Nearly Two-Thirds Of Green Cards Are Awarded
To Relatives Of

U.S.
Citizens, Our Immigration System Will Be Reformed To Better Balance The
Importance Of Family

Connections
With The Economic Needs Of Our Country.

�� Visas for parents of U.S. citizens are capped, while green cards
for the siblings and adult children of U.S.

citizens
and green card holders are eliminated.

�� A new Parents Visitor visa is created to ensure that parents are
allowed to visit their children in the United

States
regularly and for extended periods of time.

�� The Diversity Lottery Program, which grants 50,000 green cards per
year through random chance, is

ended.

�� These rebalanced green cards are used to clear the Family Backlog
in eight years and then applied to the

new
Merit System for future immigration once the backlog is cleared.

Fact
Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform Page 3 of 4

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070517-7.html
5/18/2007

Clearing
The Family Backlog Within Eight Years

Family
Members Who Have Applied Legally, And Lawfully Waited Their Turn In Line, Will
Receive Their

Green
Card Within The Next Eight Years. Today, millions of family members of U.S. citizens wait years in
line

for
a green card, with some waits estimated at as long as 30 years.

Return
to this article at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070517-7.html

 

Sorry about the format guys.. let me do it again :) Sorry

Hope this one is better :)

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 17, 2007
Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform
Administration And Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Comprehensive Immigration
Reform
President Bush Discusses Comprehensive Immigration Bill
In Focus: Immigration
Today, Administration Officials And A Bipartisan Group Of Senators Reached Agreement On Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation. The proposal includes:

· Putting Border Security And Enforcement First: Border security and worksite-enforcement benchmarks must be met before other elements of the proposal are implemented.
· Providing Tools For Employers To Verify The Eligibility Of The Workers They Hire: Employers will be required to verify the work eligibility of all employees using an employment eligibility verification system, while all workers will be required to present stronger and more verifiable identification documents. Tough new anti-fraud measures will be implemented and stiff penalties imposed on employers who break the law.

· Creating A Temporary Worker Program: To relieve pressure on the border and provide a lawful way to meet the needs of our economy, the proposal creates a temporary worker program to fill jobs Americans are not doing. To ensure this program is truly "temporary," workers will be limited to three two-year terms, with at least a year spent outside the United States between each term. Temporary workers will be allowed to bring immediate family members only if they have the financial ability to support them and they are covered by health insurance.
· No Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants: Illegal immigrants who come out of the shadows will be given probationary status. Once the border security and enforcement benchmarks are met, they must pass a background check, remain employed, maintain a clean criminal record, pay a $1,000 fine, and receive a counterfeit-proof biometric card to apply for a work visa or "Z visa." Some years later, these Z visa holders will be eligible to apply for a green card, but only after paying an additional $4,000 fine; completing accelerated English requirements; getting in line while the current backlog clears; returning to their home country to file their green card application; and demonstrating merit under the merit-based system.
· Strengthening The Assimilation Of New Immigrants: The proposal declares that English is the language of the United States and calls on the United States Government to preserve and enhance it, as well as enacting accelerated English requirements for many immigrants. In addition, the DHS Office of Citizenship will be expanded to include coordinating assimilation efforts in its mission, and the Education Secretary will make an English instruction program freely available over the Internet.
· Establishing A Merit System For Future Immigration: The proposal establishes a new merit-based system to select future immigrants based on the skills and attributes they will bring to the United States. Under the merit-based system, future immigrants applying for permanent residency in the U.S. will be assigned points for skills, education, and other attributes that further our national interest including: ability to speak English; level of schooling, including added points for training in science, math, and technology; job offer in a specialty or high-demand field; employer endorsement; and family ties to the U.S.
· Ending Chain Migration: The immigration system would be reformed to better balance the importance of family connections with the economic needs of our country by replacing the current system, where nearly two-thirds of green cards are awarded to relatives of U.S. citizens, with a system in which future family


White House News
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070517-7.html 5/18/2007
immigration will focus on the nuclear family and parents.
· Clearing The Family Backlog In Eight Years: Millions of family members of U.S. citizens now wait years in line for a green card, with some waits estimated at as long as 30 years. Family members who have applied legally and have lawfully waited their turn in line will receive their green card within eight years.

Putting Border Security And Enforcement First
Border Security And Worksite Enforcement Benchmarks Must Be Met Before A Temporary Worker
Program Is Implemented. These benchmarks include:
􀁺 Miles of fence constructed.
􀁺 Number of Border Patrol Agents hired.
􀁺 "Catch and Return" continues at the border.
􀁺 Employment Eligibility Verification System ready to process all new hires.
The Proposal Establishes New Penalties For Border Crimes And Gives The Border Patrol Additional Tools
To Stop Illegal Border Crossings. Through the deployment of additional Border Patrol agents with supporting equipment, the construction of additional fencing and vehicle barriers in targeted areas, and the development of a proper mix of sensors, radar, and cameras, the proposal establishes a true commitment to securing our borders.

Providing Tools For Employers To Verify The Eligibility Of The Workers They Hire
Employers Will Be Required To Verify The Work Eligibility Of All Employees, While All Workers Will Be
Required To Present Stronger And More Verifiable Identification Documents. Tough new anti-fraud measures will be implemented and stiff penalties imposed on employers who break the law.
􀁺 The Employment Eligibility Verification System will allow for real-time verification of employee photos and documents.
􀁺 The Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration will be able to share "nomatch" information to ensure that illegal immigrants cannot use the Social Security information of Americans to pose as legal workers.
􀁺 Employer audits will serve as an additional check on employer compliance with the system.

Creating A Temporary Worker Program
To Relieve Pressure On The Border And Provide A Lawful Channel To Meet The Needs Of Our Economy,
The Proposal Creates A Temporary Worker Program. The program allows workers to enter the country to fill jobs that Americans are not doing. The temporary worker program:
􀁺 Protects American workers by requiring U.S. employers to advertise the job in the United States at a competitive wage before hiring a temporary worker.
􀁺 Provides additional labor protections for temporary worker program participants.
􀁺 Allows temporary workers to enter the United States to work for three two-year terms, with at least a year spent outside the United States between each term.
􀁺 Sets a cap of 400,000 on the temporary worker program, which can be adjusted up or down in the future depending on demand.
􀁺 Requires temporary workers who want to bring their immediate family to show that they have the financial means to support them and that they are covered by health insurance.
􀁺 Recognizes the unique needs of agriculture by establishing a separate seasonal agriculture component under the temporary worker program.

No Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants
Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform Page 2 of 4
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070517-7.html 5/18/2007
Illegal Immigrants Who Come Out Of The Shadows Will Be Given Probationary Status. To maintain their probationary status, they must pass a background check, remain employed, and maintain a clean criminal record.

Illegal Immigrants Who Fulfill Their Probationary Requirements Can Apply For A Z Card, Which Will
Enable Them To Live, Work, And Travel Freely. Z card holders will be required to pay a $1,000 fine, meet
accelerated English and civics requirements, remain employed, and renew their visa every four years.

Z Card Holders Will Have An Opportunity To Apply For A Green Card, But Only After:
􀁺 Paying an additional $4,000 fine,
􀁺 Applying at the back of the line and waiting until the current backlog is cleared,
􀁺 Returning to their home country to file their green card application, and
􀁺 Demonstrating merit under the merit-based system.

Strengthening The Assimilation Of New Immigrants
The Proposal Declares That English Is The Language Of The United States And Calls On The United
States Government To Preserve And Enhance It, As Well As Enacting Accelerated English Requirements
For Some Immigrants. The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society
and embrace our common identity as Americans – our shared ideals, an appreciation of our history, and an ability
to speak and write the English language. Therefore, the Secretary of Education is directed to make an English
instruction program freely available over the Internet. The DHS Office of Citizenship is expanded to include
coordinating assimilation efforts in its mission, and additional funding is authorized for the Office.

Establishing A Merit System For Future Immigration
The Proposal Establishes A New Merit-Based System To Select Future Immigrants Based On The Skills
And Attributes They Will Bring To The United States. A merit system is used by many other countries.
􀁺 Under The Merit System, Future Immigrants Applying For Permanent Residency In The United States Will Be Assigned Points For Skills, Education, Employment Background And Other Attributes That Further Our National Interest. These skills include:
􀁻 Ability to speak English.
􀁻 Level of schooling, including added points for training in science, math, and technology.
􀁻 Job offer in a high-demand field.
􀁻 Work experience in the United States.
􀁻 Employer endorsement.
􀁻 Family ties to the United States.
Ending Chain Migration
In Place Of The Current System Where Nearly Two-Thirds Of Green Cards Are Awarded To Relatives Of
U.S. Citizens, Our Immigration System Will Be Reformed To Better Balance The Importance Of Family
Connections With The Economic Needs Of Our Country.
􀁺 Visas for parents of U.S. citizens are capped, while green cards for the siblings and adult children of U.S. citizens and green card holders are eliminated.
􀁺 A new Parents Visitor visa is created to ensure that parents are allowed to visit their children in the United States regularly and for extended periods of time.
􀁺 The Diversity Lottery Program, which grants 50,000 green cards per year through random chance, is ended.
􀁺 These rebalanced green cards are used to clear the Family Backlog in eight years and then applied to the new Merit System for future immigration once the backlog is cleared.
Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform Page 3 of 4
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070517-7.html 5/18/2007
Clearing The Family Backlog Within Eight Years
Family Members Who Have Applied Legally, And Lawfully Waited Their Turn In Line, Will Receive Their
Green Card Within The Next Eight Years. Today, millions of family members of U.S. citizens wait years in line
for a green card, with some waits estimated at as long as 30 years.
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070517-7.html
Fact Sheet: Border Security and Immigration Reform Page 4 of 4
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/print/20070517-7.html 5/18/2007

I like it.

good news.. as if its not flooded re kya..


Employment based will be converted to MERIT based.. point system IMMIGRATION like in CANADA and AUSTRALIA.. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....................

seems like US wants to make it easier to immigrate.. God knows why.. hmm.. i just realized .. oh.. social security is in red.. and they need more people to contribute so that baby boomers can retire .. hmmm.......................

GOOD POLICY .... just ranting (O:

=====================================================
as alwyas,
what do i know (O:

has this new immigration reform law passed already or in the process of being reviewed?

It is in process of being reviewed. It is not passed yet. I've been hearing about immigration reform and guest worker visas since 2001.. i won't be suprise if this disappears in a thin air also. Last year's heated debate and president's speeaches on TV about the reform following the massive riot by tortured soul didn't wake anyone up... i highly doubt it if anything is goin tohappen this time also. See even here insajha..people are not even interesed on this thread...
Besides, what does it do good to Nepali students and H1bs already in the USA... They do not get any preference more than any IT desii fresh out of the boat. I think it is even going to be harder for them now because now they've got to compete witht he whole world with the point system . Time for Nepali students and H1bs to pack up...

THIS BILL IS SIMPLE IMPRACTICAL, UNFAIR AND IDIOTIC!!!!

DOES NO GOOD TO NEPALESE OR MIDDLE CLASS AMERICAN IRONICALLY ALSO TO ILLEGALS

For Nepalese what we have to lose,
- Lose 1000 GC every year out of 50k(educated,educated , not in US)
- Lose national priority based on country- Employment based
- Lose the national priority based on family based

You think you guys can compete with Indians and chinese in Merit based !!!

Push away all the legal people behind , who worked their ass off to be legal in this country and studied spent money here.

so Bush wants to spend more money in Iraq by collecting taxes from illegals ..funny.
- Give Amnesty (this is!!!!!)to 12 million illegals which is against basically encourage more illegals.
- Take way jobs from black and legal hispanics and white folks (legally!!!)
- Already jobs are being outsourced now bring in people to be outsourced minor jobs as well

For Hispanics:
- Be registered easily tracked - could get it to trouble -it's a trap :)
- Wall in the middle ..hahahah
- every two years get out of country ..hmm seriously what are the chances of comin in :)??
- pay tax :)

After years of bitterly criticizing Canada's immigration policies for being too liberal, the Americans are now considering adopting immigration policies similar to Canada which is merit-based system.