Speech #1090118508

We have been following very carefully the draft of the bill that we were provided and that we had as we voted on this legislation in Committee. The final passed version. however. is still being cobbled together. but I am confident that what Im saying is accurate with regard to these issues. All illegal aliens present in the United States before January of 2004. who have worked illegally here since then for any amount of time. will first be given an H5B nonimmigrant status. good for 6 years. They are made legal for 6 years. Their spouses and children will be given the same status. After 6 years and another $1.000 fine. the aliens and their families will get green cards if the alien has been "employed in the United States. either full time. part time. seasonally. or selfemployed. or has met educational requirements." The education requirement is as broad as being in a 1year vocational work program at "an institution of higher education." These requirements are very broad. A selfemployed person could be someone who worked 1 day a year. and there is no limit on that definition. A person who meets the work requirement through education has to prove that they had fulltime attendance in as little as a 1year educational program. not that they completed any educational program. Additionally. the work requirement and education requirement for the green card are completely waived if the alien is under 21. After getting the green card. illegal aliens will be able to apply for citizenship like any other lawful permanent resident. They are put in the same status as the people who came here legally. To satisfy the work requirement of being employed in the United States. either part time. seasonally. or selfemployed. the bill states that an alien can conclusively establish his work history in the United States either by. one. presenting records maintained by one of the following: Social Security Administration.