The existing H-2a (for nursery and agricultural workers) and H-2b (for landscaping and other workers) set caps that are much too low to satisfy existing needs, according to the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA). In fact, agriculture leaders ?EUR??,,????'??conservatively estimate that 900 dairy, fruit, vegetable, and nursery farms will fail if Congress fails to enact stabilizing reforms soon,?EUR??,,????'?? the ANLA web site reports.

A new strategy marks a significant shift because it would abandon a requirement that would force illegal immigrants to leave the country before they can apply for U.S. citizenship, according to a Dec. 26 report in the New York Times. Changing that provision would make the initial number of immigrants eligible to apply for citizenship about 10 million or more.

Under the new plan, to gain citizenship, the immigrants would have to maintain employment, pay fines and back taxes and try to learn English. They also would have to pass a criminal or security background check.

The group working on the bill includes Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., who pushed hard for the 2006 failed bill. The Democrat takeover has fueled hopes for new immigration reform.

President Bush has indicated he hopes to sign a comprehensive immigration bill in 2007, and while Bush signed a bill earlier this year calling for a 700-mile border fence, the fence ?EUR??,,????'??+ controversial because of doubts about its effectiveness and cost ?EUR??,,????'??+ is likely to be addressed again in the new bill the lawmakers will introduce in the new Congress.

Sources: Foxnews.com, anla.org