The complexity of the immigration reform bill is a real asset for the White House in its attempt the refute “Key Myths” about the deal. But notwithstanding the multiple, confusing “notwithstanding provisions in 245 (a) and (b) i, iii, and iv. . . etc. etc.” the bill is clear that at least one of the alleged myths is factually correct. According to the White House Myth #4 is “DHS has only one day to complete background checks.” That is the case for the initial legal status available to illegal aliens within weeks of the bill being signed. Illegal aliens physically present here as of January 1, 2007 need only fill out an application including information like employment history, and criminal history “gang membership, renunciation of gang affiliation,” and submit fingerprints and biometric data. Then “probationary benefits,” (legal status) must be issued after “all appropriate background checks or the end of the next business day, whichever is sooner.” This probationary legal status remains until 6 months after the new “Z” visas are available, following the satisfaction of the enforcement “triggers” which bill supporters expect will take 18 months (if ever). Millions of applicants can be expected to overwhelm this new system, but the White House reassures critics that “At any time if something pops up, the applicant becomes deportable. . . ” Before converting to “Z” visa or legal permanent residency status there are more requirements and no arbitrary deadlines for approval.

The White House also notes that before being granted permanent status applicants “will have to make an application from their home country,” but the bill authorizes the Secretary of State to waive that requirement and permit applications to be accepted at any foreign consular office.

The 1986 reform bill led to massive document fraud and it’s hard to see how this latest effort will avoid the same result. An illegal alien has to produce some federal, state or local document to show his physical presence and evidence of employment OR two other “reliable documents” which could include a sworn affidavit from a nonrelative or “business records; employer records; records of a labor union or day labor center [a 7-11 parking lot?]. . . ” This could be expected to prompt a mad dash for the border and a thriving market in phony business stationary and backdated utility bills.