In recent days, President Bush has launched a proposal for a new Immigration law. His proposal states that undocumented immigrants currently working in the US as well as those other, willing to come to the US, who can show that they have a work contract, will be given a three-year, renewable working permit and legal status in this country.

Such proposal has created a large debate. And many defenders and detractors, both within the main stream and the minority American sectors, have argued in favor or against it, based on the different aspects of this proposed new law and on the constituents' interests. And both sides have raised very strong and valid arguments to support their positions.

For example, mainstream defenders of this proposal state (and rightly so) that undocumented workers are currently exploited by many of their employers, and that this exploitation is a violation of their human rights. On the other hand, other main stream detractors state (also rightly so) that providing legal status to those who have come into the US by breaking the immigration laws, will only entice others to do like wise.

At the other end of the spectrum, minority defenders of this proposal state (and rightly so) that providing a legal status to undocumented workers will provide Id documents. With these, workers may open bank accounts to deposit the surpluses of their now fairer wages, send money home and pay taxes to contribute to the health, education and other government benefits they currently receive, anyway, as US residents. Workers may also be able to return home, to visit those left behind. On the other hand, minority detractors (also rightly so) state that the proposed three-year renewable guest worker status will prevent workers from becoming US citizens, and staying here for the duration.

This writer approaches the immigration problem from an entirely different angle, one purely practical in nature. For us, this proposal is a step in the right direction that helps solve, once and for all, the problem of illegal immigration to this country. In perhaps an unintended way, President Bush's proposed immigration law, by legalizing the status of undocumented workers, destroys the real reason behind the current, unstoppable influx of foreigners into the American workplace. Let's explain.

Some say that foreigners (in particular from Third World countries) come to the US because American wages and standards of living, exploited and all, are better than at home. But this remains true for any First world country (e.g. Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, just to mention a few). And we find few, if any, Mexican, Cuban or Salvadorean immigrants in these countries. The reasons is straight-forward: undocumented workers will find (or be offered) very few jobs there. Employers are not allowed (and will be severely fined) to use undocumented workers. And this restriction is enforced by the government very seriously.

President Bush's proposed immigration law would produce, perhaps unintentionally, the same effect here in the US. For, now illegal workers will obtain a working permit. And if the government enforces a fine for those employers who still hire undocumented ones, in a short time people coming to the US illegally will find out they are wasting their time and efforts -and will try somewhere else where this approach will result.

In addition, legalizing guest workers will put out of business the "coyotes" who make a livelihood of smuggling undocumented workers into the country, many times at the cost of these immigrant's lives. The number of immigration officers in the borders (and this operation cost) may be substantially reduced and Immigration police may concentrate in the real problem today: preventing foreign terrorism!

Not having to pay for "coyotes" to come here, prospective immigrant workers will not be tempted to bring in drugs or other illegal substances, that sell at high prices, to help defray illegal immigration expenses (as a few of them have done in the past). Terrorists may even take advantage of the present situation, to try to use illegal immigrants to bring in weapons or other such gadgets they may want to use against us.

Finally, some are complaining that a three-year, renewable working contract may prevent immigrant workers to stay here, if they are so inclined, and partake of the American dream. However, if foreign workers are paid good wages, that allow them to save and send money back home (where they left their extended families and friends) many of them may not need or want to stay. The higher American standard of living, that made them come here, may be now available back home, where perhaps their darker skin color and their heavier accents are not a problem.

So, let's discuss this immigration proposal some more. It may have many goodies for all!

Jorge Luis Romeu is a professor in the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University and a commentator on international education and immigration issues.

This op-ed appeared in the Jan. 18 issue of the Syracuse Post-Standard

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