One of the major problems with the bill is that it streamlines the path to permanent residency status.  True, our country's need for migrant agricultural workers should be filled by immigrants holding a temporary (but renewable) work visa under a guest worker program.  This status, however, should have no relationship to permanent residency.  After the season is over, these workers should take their savings and go back to their home country where the money would encourage economic development.

The Senate bill does contain some good ideas.  It would enhance border security.  Employers would be required to consult a national employment eligibility system.  Such a database would assure legal status and could be used to enforce the temporary nature of the work visa.

The bill's guest worker program, however, needs to be redesigned.  Guest workers should be required to return home more frequently than provided in the Senate bill (at least annually) to insure that they maintain contact with their home country.  Workers currently here illegally should be allowed to participate in this program immediately (without regard to a quota).  I am opposed to the imposition of a fine, but I also see no reason to provide to illegals or new migrants a path to permanent residency.  As provided in the bill, those with a criminal record should be screened out of the guest worker program.  Visas under the program ought to be subject to a quota equal to available jobs in the agricultural sector.

I do not think we need to expand quotas for long-term work visas based on special skills.  Instead, we should insist that U.S. citizens be given preferential treatment for jobs requiring education or skill.

For more of Samuel Berry's views, please visit
http://www.berry2008.org