WASHINGTON — Some questions and answers about President Bush's immigration proposals:

Would the plan provide amnesty to illegal immigrants already in this country?

That depends on how amnesty is defined. In 1986, illegal immigrants who could prove they had been in the country since before 1982 were allowed to apply for legal permanent residence. Bush's proposal does not provide a similar automatic eligibility for legal permanent residence in this country. Instead, his proposal would allow the immigrant to work legally, with the same worker protections as an American while participating in the program. An employer can petition for the worker to become a legal permanent resident, but under current immigration law, the worker must return home before he can apply himself.

Are Bush's proposals contained in legislation to Congress?

No, they are broad principles, an outline of the sort of immigration changes he would support. Several bills have been proposed in Congress that contain a range of proposals. One with the broadest support would create a guest worker program for agricultural workers.

Who supports Bush's proposal?

Bush's strongest support comes from members of the U.S. business community who have experienced a shortage of American workers to fill service-sector jobs such as hotel and motel workers, cleaning crews and farm laborers.

What do immigration advocacy groups say? Do they support it?

Migrant advocacy groups feel the proposals fall short of what is needed to manage illegal immigration and keep temporary workers flowing legally into the United States. They had pushed for a program that allows undocumented immigrants and temporary workers from abroad to become eligible to apply for legal permanent residence after working a specified period and without leaving the country.

Without that possibility, workers may have little incentive to participate, the advocates say, because many have been living in the United States for years and have bought homes, have U.S.-citizen children or other ties to communities, and thus won't want to leave when they are no longer participating in the program.

Has the United States ever had a guest-worker program before?

The U.S. has many temporary-worker programs in place, including for high-tech workers and agricultural workers. But the regulations in some are so cumbersome that employers don't often use them.

What percentage of agricultural workers in the United States are here illegally?

The federal government estimates 52 percent of agricultural workers are undocumented. Farm-labor and industry groups estimate closer to 85 percent.

Source : http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001832222_qa08.html