Lawmakers started early in 2007 in the push towards a guest-worker program for immigrants. Some see their efforts as a sign that 2007 is the year for an immigration overhaul, according to a Contra Costa Times article on HispanicBusiness.com.

The new legislation would grant "blue cards" to illegal immigrants who could prove they had worked for at least 150 days in the last two years. According to reports, they must continue working for several years before attaining permanent legal status.

The guest-worker program they are proposing is targeted specifically towards farm workers, but officials hope that the approved package will extend beyond farm workers to include all industries targeted by illegal workers. "The broader proposal will be introduced later with its own fanfare. It will extend to millions of illegal immigrants the opportunity to become legal U.S. residents and, eventually, citizens if they can pay fines and cross other hurdles."

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