Bill--

Sorry, I have to respectfully disagree with you-- (it's good to know we can disagree without descending to invective)--(but with no respect for Mr. Dobbs, who has just decided illegal immigration is his hobbyhorse--and he'll ride it for all he's worth.)

I believe you are needlessly complicating the issue. It does boil down to offering illegal immigrants a path to citizenship--or not.

You seem to think all an illegal will have to do is sneak across the border--presto, he's a citizen.

Actually he will have to:

1) pay a fine ($2,000)--not easy for poor illiterates
2) prove he has worked 3 of the past 5 years in the US. Yes, documentation will be a nightmare. I feel we should err on the side of accepting documents, unless they are obvious forgeries.
3) work another 6 years-- and get behind all applicants already applying for visas.
4) have arrived before April 2001

If he arrived after January 2004, he'll have to leave. If he arrived between Jan 2004 and April 2004, he'll have to go to US port of entry, re-enter legally with a temporary work permit, pass background checks, and pay back taxes.

I think proof of English ability is also in there somewhere--and it should be.

It's not an "amnesty for lawbreakers".