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Immigration20060327.ID = "Immigration20060327";
Immigration20060327.ID_WB = 12038309;
Immigration20060327.sPubDate = "3/27/2006 7:19:02 PM GMT";
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Immigration20060327.appHeader = "fact file|The immigration debate";
Immigration20060327.appDeck = "A look at reform efforts in Washington.";
Immigration20060327.appFooter = "Source: NBC News, The Washington Post";
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Immigration20060327[i++] = new Array("","Introduction","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
Immigration20060327[i-1].body = "As the contentious debate over immigration reform heats up, competing proposals have reached Capitol Hill with varying attempts to address the need for foreign workers and homeland security concerns.<p>President Bush&#146;s plan would match foreign workers with employers when Americans cannot be found to fill the jobs and would be open to future immigrants and undocumented workers already in the country. <p>But some conservatives say that amounts to amnesty for lawbreakers and have pushed their own proposals addressing a hot-button issue in a midterm election year.<p>Details have yet to be determined, but here&#146;s a look at the proposals in Washington.";

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Immigration20060327[i-1].body = "The House of Representatives approved a bill that would require employers to verify potential employees&#146; legal status. It also subjects employers to criminal penalties and imposes civil fines of up to $50,000 for each illegal hire. It does not include a provision for guest workers. <p>In principle, the latest draft would allow undocumented workers already in the country and a limited number of future immigrants to eventually apply for permanent resident status &#151; without having to return to their native country. Critics say that amounts to amnesty.";

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Immigration20060327[i-1].body = "A proposal by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., would also hold employers accountable for verifying the legal status of workers, but increases penalties. Hiring more than 10 illegal workers in one year would bring up to 10 years in prison. <p>The Specter plan expands the guest-worker program, authorizing immigrants to work for three years but requiring them to return home for a year before re-applying.";

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Immigration20060327[i-1].body = "Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., have proposed legislation that would allow undocumented immigrants to remain for six years under temporary work visas after paying a $1,000 fine and passing background checks. <p>Participants can later apply for permanent residence and citizenship by paying an additional $1,000, all back taxes and prove proficiency in English and civics. It also allows 400,000 new guest workers per year.";

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Immigration20060327[i-1].body = "<li>An estimated 11 million illegal immigrants reside in the United States.<p><li>The government issues a work visa &#150; known as H-2B &#150; that allows about 66,000 unskilled workers to enter the country each year for up to 10 months.<p><li>Undocumented workers comprise nearly 5 percent of the U.S. labor force, according to a recent study by the Pew Hispanic Center.";

	// END editorial data