A sweeping plan for illegal workers

But if it's for real, he says, it will be "the greatest thing that Bush has done for the country. It will be a recognition that these are hard-working people, and not second-class human beings." Raul came on a six-month tourist visa eight years ago, and never returned.

He claims he tried to obtain documents legally, but was unsuccessful. "I tried to do it the right way," he says. When that failed, he got a fake social security number and began working a variety of jobs. Today, he is a full-time artist who believes he's just as American as he is Argentinean.

"I learned to speak English, I learned the history of this country. I made friends and built a life here. I learned how to dream and how to be strong," he says. "I feel like I have paid my dues."

Even supporters of Bush's proposal readily acknowledge the political dimension of the initiative. "This is part of the 'compassionate conservative' portfolio, specifically to reach out to Hispanic Americans and present a more inclusive Republican Party," says a senior republican Senate aide. "In some ways, [Bush] is able to do this because he has the base locked down. There will be, on the margin, some voices in opposition, but I think he can get away with it because he's just so popular."

The aide notes that the initiative is potentially worth votes in states like California, the top electoral-vote state, as well as Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, and even Michigan, where there's a large immigrant population. The last three states are key battlegrounds in the presidential race.

• Staff writer Linda Feldmann contributed to this report from Washington.

Some details of the immigration reform proposed by President Bush, according to senior administration officials Wednesday:

• The new "temporary worker program" would allow either an illegal immigrant already in the United States or someone abroad to apply for the right to work legally in the country for a three-year term that could be renewed. The White House is not saying how long the term could be extended or how many times it could be renewed.

• An applicant for the program already in the US must pay an unspecified registration fee and show he or she is currently employed. Applicants still in their home countries won't have to pay a fee, but must have a job lined up.

• The employer must show no Americans wanted the job.

• Temporary workers would get all the same protections afforded US workers.

• The workers must return to their home countries at the end of the term.

• Dependents of the temporary workers would be allowed in the US if the workers could prove they could support their family. The workers would be allowed to move freely back and forth between the US and their home country.

• The White House also is calling for an unspecified increase in the number of green cards allowed to be granted annually.

• The plan also would provide incentives for workers to return to their home countries, including allowing them to collect retirement benefits there based on Social Security taxes paid in the US.

• Congress would have to write legislation for the changes to take effect.

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