The Hindu : U.S. reviewing immigration policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 13, 2003

International

International

U.S. reviewing immigration policy

Washington Dec. 12. The United States is having a fresh look at its immigration policy, which might lead to amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants — including from India — living and working in the country.

"We have taken steps to improve the immigration infrastructure. Those are some foundations for moving forward in a more orderly, safe and humane migration policy," the White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, told reporters on Thursday.

"This is a matter that really is under review at this point. We continue to look at it," he added.

An estimated eight to 12 million illegal immigrants, mostly from Latin America, live in the U.S. There are also substantial numbers from almost every country of the world, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The statement came two days after the Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Ridge, told a Miami audience that the Government has to "offer some kind of legal status" to the illegal immigrants in the country.

Mr. Ridge said he would not support granting citizenship to the illegal immigrants now in the country "because they violated the law to get here," but the Government needed to "determine how you can legalise their presence" and then institute an immigration enforcement policy to prevent future illegal entries.

PTI

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