Immigration bill a touchy issue

Emotions are mixed on proposed plan that would allow many of 12M undocumented to stay in the U.S.

BY BART JONES | Newsday Staff Writer

April 7, 2006

Some called it a reward for lawbreakers. Others hailed it as a major breakthrough in one of the country's thorniest problems. Still others predicted it simply won't work.

Long Islanders reacted with mixed emotions yesterday to proposed legislation by the U.S. Senate that could legalize many of the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.

On whatever side the opinions came down, they were heated.

A key aspect of the proposed compromise legislation is that undocumented immigrants who have been in the country at least five years can remain here and will be eligible to gain eventual citizenship. Those who have been here less than two years would have to return home. Those with two to five years would have to return home briefly and re-enter as temporary workers. They could later seek citizenship.

The new measure reportedly has the support of 65 senators and could be passed as early as today or tomorrow.

"I think it's totally unfair to all the people who have been waiting to come here legally," said William Murphy of Concerned Residents for a Better Brookhaven, a Farmingville-based community activist group. "People who have been trying to do it the right way are basically going to be cast to the back of the line."

But Matthew Crosson, president of the Long Island Association business group, said he thought the proposal was a workable compromise. "Current law clearly doesn't work because it's unenforceable," said Crosson, adding that Long Island's economy is dependent on the estimated 100,000 undocumented immigrants who work in agriculture, restaurants, landscaping and construction.

A leading Long Island Latino advocate said he didn't think the proposal would work. The Rev. Allan Ramirez said that with an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants entering the country each year, setting a 2004 cutoff date would leave 1 million people without legal status.

"The Senate is grabbing the bull by the horns," Ramirez said. "They need to continue grabbing the bull by the horns. Don't stop now."

For some, emotions ran high, with cabinetmaker Matthew Reindl of Great Neck calling the legislation "pretty disgusting. It's a slap in the face to all law-abiding business owners" who have not hired undocumented workers. But an asphalt company owner who did not give his name said, "It's a great idea. If you send all these workers back, the economy would come to a standstill."

One undocumented Mexican day laborer from Farmingville named Jose, who did not want his last name used, said he was disappointed with the time requirements. He said in Spanish that authorities should decide who becomes a citizen based on whether the immigrant "came to work or came to cause trouble."

Nadia Marin Molina of the pro-immigrant Workplace Project in Hempstead said a key question is whether a final Senate bill - which would then go to the House of Representatives - will include the creation of 400,000 visas for low-skilled workers as some senators have proposed.