Agricultural Personnel Management Program
University of California

7/16/01 News Report -- Reuters

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) -- The White House played down on Monday the idea of granting legal status to more than 3 million Mexicans living illegally in the United States, saying its main interest was in a temporary guestworker program.

White House officials on Monday will receive a report from a State and Justice Department panel on revamping immigration between Mexico and the United States, a priority for U.S. President George W. Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox.

A U.S. official said the working group had, among other options, looked into the controversial idea of allowing the undocumented Mexicans living in the United States to acquire permanent residence and, over time, U.S. citizenship.

The idea, which would require congressional approval, is strenuously resisted by a number of conservative legislators who argue that it would reward people who broke the law and undermine the deterrent effect of U.S. immigration laws.

However, such a plan would be warmly received by the Mexican government and it could enhance Bush's standing with Mexican American voters as he seeks to position himself for the 2004 presidential election.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the working group's main focus was not an amnesty for the Mexican illegal aliens.

"The focus is on a new temporary worker program," Fleischer told reporters, describing the review being carried out by U.S. and Mexican officials as a "work in progress" and saying that no decisions had been taken.

"State and Justice are taking a look at a new temporary worker program that would focus on such things as preventing adverse effects on U.S. workers, ensuring legal rights and protections for these temporary workers who come to this country and promoting a secure and orderly border," he added.

The idea of a temporary worker program was aimed in part at giving some sort of legal status to migratory workers who cross the border for seasonal work on farms.

Reflecting some of the concerns on Capitol Hill about any broad amnesty for Mexicans living illegally in the United States, Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, a Mississippi Republican, expressed misgivings about the idea on Sunday.

"I think we need to take a careful look at that," Lott told the "Fox News Sunday" program. The legislator said there was existing law and additional legislation in the works to deal with the situation, adding "there are some immigrants that we should have a process where they can have a legal residency."

"But just to summarily grant legal status to 3 million people, many of them that got here illegally and have violated the law while they're here -- I'd want to make sure we do this carefully," Lott said.