George W. Bush

In January 2004, Bush outlined a new policy that would give a temporary 3-year work visa to immigrants who are willing to take a job that no American is willing to take. The proposal would require employers to sponsor a worker and the visa would have to be renewed. Bush's policy comes after several years of more stringent immigration regulations, including requiring visitors from certain countries to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Some immigrant advocates in New York criticized Bush's new plan, saying it would give too much power to employers and could potentially deport people after being employed for several years. (Learn more)

John Kerry

Kerry supports reform of current immigration policy, including efforts to restore benefits to legal immigrants and legislation to provide immigration relief to young undocumented immigrants who have grown up and graduated from high school in the U.S. He believes the naturalization process for legal permanent residents serving in the Armed Forces should be expedited. Kerry supports a proposal that will allow undocumented immigrants to legalize their status if they have been in the United States for a certain amount of time, have been working, and can pass a background check. He also calls for increased funding for border enforcement to ensure that only legal immigrants can enter the country. (Learn more)

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GOTHAM GAZETTE’S RELATED ARTICLES

• Urban Agenda: Immigration
• Bush's Temporary Worker Program
• Citizenship and Voting
• Immigrant Soldiers
• Special Registration