Since the amnesty granted by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 the rumors of another one had not been as strong as they are right now. It is anxiously awaited by hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who could not qualify for legal residence at that time and the millions that arrived thereafter.

Even though it has not been officially announced, it has been mentioned that George W. Bush is already studying the terms of the amnesty. If it becomes a reality, many undocumented people could obtain legal residence and five years later apply for naturalization.

It is good news because, even for legal immigrants, the situation was negatively affected by the tragic events of September 11. There is an erroneous perception among the general public that all immigrants are bad and should not have rights. Many organizations that support the immigrants have been fighting to obtain amnesty for the undocumented before 9/11 and they have made progress. The hope must be revived.

Organizers of community, religious, and labor groups in many large cities across the United Status, including Boston, established contact in the spring of 2000. This encounter gave origin to a campaign called “A Million Voices for Legalization”. The idea of collecting a million postcards to be sent to Bush was created at that time.

It would be an act of justice for the president to accept to do it, even if he does it for political instead of humanitarian reasons. For more than 20 years millions or laborers have worked almost as slaves, earning less than minimum wage, without health insurance or benefits and under the constant threat of deportation.

Eight millions of undocumented immigrants currently live in the U.S. Many of them Hispanics. Legalization and amnesty are controversial topics but Bush has continued the arguments about it because thousand of voices have been already heard.

Proposals from several places in the nation will arrive to Washington next October 3, and the next day caravans from several cities, including Boston will travel to New York to participate in a massive demonstration. Los Angeles, Huston, and Miami are other cities that will join the convoys. Local community agencies have information about this activity and also about the gathering of signatures and postcards.

Undocumented people should contact the same community agencies to find out about the legalization process once the amnesty is in effect.

Of course, groups that oppose the amnesty claim that it is like a prize to be given to people who have violated immigration laws and also that potential terrorist can benefit from it.

But all amnesties have faced opposition even before the acts of terrorisms that have occurred in the country. Xenophobia has always existed and false remedies have been suggested.

For instance, since 1995 the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles does not issue driving licenses to undocumented individuals because they do not have a social security number. Recently, this office, along with the Safe Driving Coalition, formulated a bill supported by Representative Eugene O’ Flaherty to provide the undocumented of Massachusetts with a sort of tax payers’ I.D. (the ITIN or “Individual Taxpayer Identification.”) Supposedly, it should ease the process of obtaining a driver’s license. Other states have experimented with this system.

But some undocumented individuals are thinking twice before taking this step because it would reveal their illegal status. And that is because all undocumented immigrants live in fear of being deported, even if no fault has been committed. The ITIN is less than a partial solution.

Amnesty is the only safe way to a legality that many have already earned. As said by Richard Gephard, Democrat of Missouri, if you have lived in this country for a minimum of five years, have worked, and you have played by all the laws then you should have the opportunity to engage in what we call “earned legalization.”

The Unites States is nation of immigrants. With the exception of the Native Americans Indians, everybody came from somewhere else.

As previous waves of immigration, the undocumented Latinos come to the U.S. looking for jobs and they are cheap labor. The industrial sector has survived because of them. Illegal immigrants, who largely have come from Latin American countries, have helped the economy of the country.

The government must take measures to counteract terrorism without terrorizing the undocumented but rather help them to legally incorporate themselves to the system and continue their contribution to make America great.