Agricultural Personnel Management Program
University of California

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Members of Arizona's congressional delegation introduced a proposal to dramatically reform immigration law, shifting the focus from enforcing borders to creating a regulated, market-driven flow of immigrant workers.

The sponsors -- Sen. John McCain, Rep. Jim Kolbe and Rep. Jeff Flake, all Republicans -- admitted passing the legislation in this Congress will be difficult, but McCain suggested those unwilling to budge on reform should see the human consequences of inaction.

"They're so far from the desert of Arizona that they don't see the concern or urgency that we do, where today some innocent person is dying in the deserts of the Southwest seeking only what we seek -- a better life," said McCain.

The bill would not cap the number of worker visas that could be issued. Instead, the number would be determined by the demand for guest workers. Jobs listed on a Labor Department registry for 14 days and not filled by U.S. workers could be given to an immigrant guest worker.

After three years holding the job, the worker could apply for legal permanent residency status.

For illegal immigrants already in the United States, the bill does not offer amnesty, but does provide a six-year process to earn permanent residency.

Undocumented immigrants working in the United States would have to pay a $1,500 fine and obtain a restricted visa for three years, then a normal guest worker visa for three years. At the end of that time, they could apply for legal permanent residency. By creating a legal structure for guest workers to enter the country, the congressmen said resources could be focused on criminals and terrorists, increasing national security.

Flake said efforts to build up security along the border have proven deadly in some cases and prevented the typical flow of immigrants in and out of the country. He said that while immigrants once stayed in the United States for an average of 2.2 years, they now stay nearly seven.

"I would say we really haven't stopped anybody who wants to get here, because the lure of jobs is too great. What we've done is make sure that those that get here stay," he said.

Flake said he hopes the Bush administration will eventually back the proposal. Kolbe said the sponsors have discussed the bill with White House staff, but the administration has not endorsed it.

"There are provisions in here that I never would have dreamed a couple months ago that I would have supported," Kolbe said, but compromises were necessary to get a bill passed and solve the problem.

Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, a pro-immigrant group, said it would have been unthinkable in the late 1990s for three Republicans from a border state to make such sweeping proposals.

However, significant changes must be made to the proposal, Sharry said. It raises too many hurdles for undocumented immigrants to get worker visas, it should do more for immigrant families and needs tougher labor provisions to protect migrant workers from abuse, he said.

The National Council of La Raza expressed similar concerns in a statement.