President Bush's proposal for major changes in federal immigration policy sparked positive reaction from construction contractors, who view it as a way to ease the industry's worker shortages, but labor unions criticized the plan as too pro-business and lacking a way for undocumented immigrants to become full U.S. citizens. Moreover, the changes would require enacting legislation, a difficult task for such a contentious issue, especially in 2004's election-shortened congressional schedule. The central element of Bush's plan, announced Jan. 7, is a new "temporary worker program." Under the proposal, a non-U.S. citizen who has a job, or job offer, would get a three-year permit that could be renewed. "But it will have an end," Bush added. Those who don't stay employed, or who violate the law, will have to leave the U.S., he said.
Undocumented workers now in the U.S. will have to pay a fee to sign up for the temporary worker permit. Those entering the country would be exempt from the fee.