Amnesty eyed for illegal aliens

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PHOENIX -- Sen. John Kerry yesterday promised an amnesty for most illegal immigrants who have been in the United States for at least five years.

"It is time to fulfill the promise of America, so that those who work hard and take responsibility and build a better life for them and their families, and live by the rules, and pay their taxes and raise their families have a right to share in America and its citizenship in the fullest," the Democratic candidate for president said.

Mr. Kerry, speaking to the National Council of La Raza's national conference, said that within 100 days of taking office, he would propose a four-part plan that would give a citizenship path to illegal immigrants who have paid taxes while living here and who pass a security screening.

Mr. Kerry joins a roiling debate over how to deal with the estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants.

Hispanic advocacy groups have called for an extensive amnesty for most of those immigrants, and Mr. Kerry's proposal yesterday drew the strongest applause of his 50-minute speech.

Mr. Kerry's plan goes much further than President Bush, who has proposed a guest-worker program that would allow current illegal immigrants and foreigners living overseas to apply for a renewable three-year temporary visa. Mr. Bush also proposed increasing the number of green cards issued each year, though he didn't specify by how much.

But Mr. Kerry called Mr. Bush's plan "exploitative," dismissing it as "work in America for low cost and never have a chance to be a citizen."

Mr. Bush's plan was labeled an amnesty by those who want stricter controls on immigration, and Mr. Kerry's plan is bound to draw the same charge.

Several immigration plans are already pending in Congress, including one by Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, that would create a temporary-worker program but require participants to return home at the end of their period.

Mr. Cornyn yesterday said he was happy Mr. Kerry joined the debate, but said his plan goes in the wrong direction.