For the first time in six years, I agree with President Bush.

He and I don't see eye to eye with respect to the war in Iraq or his economic "plan." But when it comes to illegal immigration, Bush has it right.

He has devised a "guest worker" program that would allow immigrants to work jobs for which no American workers are available, providing them with an opportunity to eventually become legal residents.

But a bill passed by the House of Representatives last week aims to make felons out of them and anyone who helps them. In fact, the House is even willing to go as far as building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border to keep illegal immigrants out of the country.

This past summer, I worked with a man who had illegally immigrated to the U.S., and the experience helped me to see the human aspect of the issue. As I talked with him about the problems he faced, he mentioned something very simple I had not thought of before: health care for immigrants.

As an illegal immigrant, who was working in the U.S. and providing a service for Americans, he and his family were not eligible for any health care.

The restriction on health coverage was not only limited to my co-worker, but included his wife and children as well. If either of his two children contracted a cold or broke a leg, he would have to pay an exorbitant amount of money out of pocket to get them the proper care. He had to tell his children to be careful while they played. They could not participate in sports that other children their ages were playing.

The "illegal immigrant" label relegated his family to essentially less than human. Through working in food service, he was providing a service and contributing to the economy. But because of his illegal status, he could not reap any additional benefits.

The prices that hospitals, doctors and drug companies charge for their health products and services are outrageous. The only reason people can afford to get sick or hurt and receive treatment is because they have some sort of health insurance. Even people who are stuck in poverty have access to low-cost health insurance. Illegal immigrants can't even get the smallest amount of health care coverage because of their illegal status.

The sacrifice these workers make by not being eligible for health care coverage should be for a good reason, but illegal immigrants in the United States are working crappy jobs during crappy hours making crappy wages. The current system is basically slavery.

Immigrants do not have much say in what they do or how long they work; they are at the will of whomever is hosting them. But they are working, and making more than they would be elsewhere, so they are probably not going to leave the United States willingly. They left countries that had no opportunities for them and came to a country where they have work. If the immigrants can live the rest of their lives in a country filled with available jobs, why would they leave?

Being an illegal immigrant in the United States is hard, not only because the work is similar to slave labor, but because it also keeps them from enjoying many of the necessities that everyone else who works receives.

If they were allowed to become legal residents, illegal immigrants could contribute to the country by providing services and by paying taxes. They would also be able get the necessities, like health insurance.

Congress needs to consider the president's proposal so the hard-working immigrants of this country can focus on finding that better life for which they search and not worry about keeping their children from playing football.