Ray of light for US illegal immigrants

Salim Rizvi
BBC correspondent in New York

South Asians in New York have broadly welcomed the new move

For years, many have toiled long hours in underpaid jobs, often exploited by unscrupulous employers.

They have often not sent their children to schools nor reported crimes for fear of alerting the authorities.

If they fall sick many do not go to hospital.

Now, for many of America's illegal immigrants, new proposals have provided a ray of light that they might live and work in the country without fear of deportation.

President George W Bush's latest proposal is that all undocumented or illegal immigrants will be given a temporary work permit, initially for three years, but then renewable.

Low-paid jobs

Of the estimated eight to 12 million illegal immigrants, around two million are from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

They work in restaurants, grocery stores, for construction companies - in lowly and low-paid jobs many Americans do not want.

Not all Americans will back the new approach on illegal immigrants

Vijay Seth is an Indian graduate who arrived in the US 10 years ago.

He has worked odd jobs for low-pay.

Now he works in a restaurant and feels this new immigration plan will help illegal workers rebuild their lives.

"There are many people who are forced to work below their capacity for the simple reason that they don't have proper documents.

"This programme will help them come out in the open and look for better opportunities to work and plan and decide about their future."

His friend, Javed, who works in the same restaurant, is from Bangladesh and shares Seth's optimism.

Bush's proposals Allows estimated 8m illegal immigrant workers chance to work legally in the country for a fixed period Will gain legal status for an initial period of three years if can prove they have jobs Will be able to travel freely between US and their home countries Workers can apply for guest worker status at a US company if it is proved no US citizen can take the job Can apply for green card giving permanent residency in US, although Mr Bush said there would be no special preference for such workers

"It is very good news, people will come forward and grab this opportunity."

Mahipal Singh, originally from the Punjab in India, is an immigration lawyer in New York.

He says illegals should come forward to apply for work permits.

"For those who have not visited their home countries for years for fear of being denied entry back into the US this new plan provides a good opportunity."

The Bangladeshi Consul-General in New York, Rafiq Khan, agrees: "Any move to give legal status to illegal immigrants is good; it will mitigate their suffering."

Some Americans still want tough action taken against all illegals, but many acknowledge that if these workers - waiters, cooks, dishwashers, nannies, builders - are deported it will severely affect their lifestyle and the economy.

These workers have often had to toil under conditions of exploitation and fear - where lack of documentation gives employers a huge hold over them.

They would be happy to pay taxes, but cannot.

'Gimmick'

Many become so desperate they pay thousands of dollars to marry willing American citizens and gain a green card.

The plans should provide legal status for all illegal immigrants who don't have a criminal record Khalid Azam, lawyer

There have been cases of women marrying several times in return for huge sums of money.

Although the new immigration plan has brought general approval among illegals, some are still fearful that if they report to the authorities they may be deported later.

Most entered legally on temporary tourist visas but overstayed.

They know that the immigration authorities have been tipped off in the past and have acted to arrest and deport overstayers.

For others, the new immigration plan is a political gimmick.

For them it will fall foul of unscrupulous employers who will lower wages and charge employees huge sums to act as sponsors for the work permits.

Khalid Azam, a Pakistani, is a lawyer who has been based in New York for the past 20 years.

"The plans should provide legal status for all illegal immigrants who don't have a criminal record, without subjecting them to getting a sponsor.

"The condition of having a job to qualify for a work permit does not help workers, as they will be exploited by unscrupulous employers," he says.

But, for now, it seems that most of the millions of South Asian illegal immigrants struggling to live in the land of opportunity are prepared to tackle these obstacles in order to pursue their dream.