Mar 29, 2006 11:00 pm US/Central
Senate Immigration Debate Hits Home In Chicago
by Alita Guillen
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The U.S. Senate has begun formal debate on a bill to overhaul the nation's immigration laws.
Chicagoans are split on a nationwide debate of immigrants' rights.
CBS 2's Alita Guillen says both sides are watching what's happening.
As the illegal immigration issue is debated on the Senate floor and protested around the country, undocumented people like Antonio here in Chicago are hopeful, but realistic.
It's been 16 years since he left his wife and children in Guatemala.
"At night I feel very sad my family is in Guatemala. I hope the changes with the immigration law will benefit us," he said.
Like many of the 11 million other undocumented people living in the United States, Antonio works and pays taxes but has no official status.
The Senate is discussing a proposal to change that by offering a path to citizenship. It would take 11 years with a clean record, a steady job and candidates would have to pay a $2,000 fine plus back taxes.
Some are outraged, calling this bill amnesty.
"I believe the borders should be closed. What about disease? What about crime?" asked Fourth Congregational Church's Rev. Dan Wood.
Mary Meg McCarthy helps undocumented workers become citizens. She believes the Senate bill is a start, but not a solution.
"We want people to come out of the shadows and we need to encourage that," the Heartland Alliance director said.
As for Antonio, he's waited 16 years and says he will continue to wait because "I am not a criminal."
Any immigration bill that comes out of the Senate would have to be reconciled with measures passed by the House, which push for tougher reforms. That legislation would then go back to the House and Senate for a vote, so the process could take some time.
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