WASHINGTON: There are likely to be five million applications from illegal aliens and foreigners for permission to work in the U.S, under a new legalization program.
The Agriculture and Labor departments have asked immigration officials to have 50,000 of the workers processed and available if needed, for the fiscal year beginning October 1.
The work force to be known officially as RAWs, for replacement agriculture workers will be employed only in case of labor shortages, officials said. About 5 million application forms have he the legislation gave a form of amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens in two categories: LAWs, for legalized alien workers, and SAWs for seasonal agricultural workers,
About2 million workers have applied for legal status under the LAW and SAW programs. About 1.5 million applications have been approved with most of the balance still pending.
Like the LAWs and SAWs, the replacement workers will be eligible for permanent legal residence and ultimately citizenship after meeting several years of work requirements. Members of the applicant pool who are not hired will remain ineligible for legal status or any benefits. Applications will be accepted in this nation and abroad for three months beginning Sept. 1.
First preference will be given to illegal aliens who have family ties to legal U.S. residents.
To be eligible an applicant must prove he has worked at least 20 days on farms in this country.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 1, 1989
