Recently, the subject of Immigration Reform has been making headlines with increasing frequency. However, many Americans are asking why, in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, would we even consider any sort of legalization program within U.S. immigration law. The short answer is that, with regard to both homeland security and our economy, it is in the best interest of our country. In fact, it is necessary.

Most of us remember Section 245(i), which, between December 20, 2000 and April 30, 2001, allowed otherwise ineligible undocumented aliens in the United States to start the sometimes long process toward legalization. By way of letter to Congress dated May 1, 2001, President Bush expressed his intention to make 245(i) permanent. Then, during August and the beginning September 2001 Congress was in fact working on just that.

However, when our nation was attacked on September 11, the issue of Legalization was dropped, and our government properly turned its attention to legislation which addressed our national security. However, the same issues that justified this administration