President George W. Bush has recently outlined another proposal for a guest worker program, which would grant temporary visas to illegal immigrants already in the United States.
The program is being proposed to strengthen national security because illegal immigrants will be identified rather than "under the radar," said Victor Romero, a law professor at the Dickinson School of Law.
Jennifer Moreno, Latino Caucus president, said the proposal would be beneficial.
"It may motivate [immigrants] to work harder knowing they will get better wages and benefits," Moreno said.
According to www.CensusScope.org, which breaks down results of the 2000 census demographically, 12.5 percent of people identified themselves as Hispanic nationally, which increased from 9 percent in 1990. In Pennsylvania, the Hispanic population makes up 3.21 percent of the state's total population.
Moreno said Latinos would most likely agree with Bush's proposal.
"Other Latinos on campus probably have relatives who want to come to the United States for a job and better opportunity," Moreno said.
Romero said it would be better if the proposal could lead to a chance for permanent residence in the United States. "The program entices you to expose yourself and then sends you back to your country after three years," he said.
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