He Calls This a Plan?

The White House's draft plan, leaked last week, calls for a new "Z" visa that would allow illegal immigrant workers to apply for three-year work permits. They would be renewable indefinitely, but would cost $3,500 each time.

Then to become legal permanent residents, illegal immigrants would have to return to their home country, apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate to re-enter legally and pay a $10,000 fine.

  Yahoo article

And let's not forget that going back across the border and applying is not the same as applying and receiving permission to immigrate. Last year, when I was in Michoacan and Morelos, central Mexican states, numerous people told me about efforts to simply get tourist visas. They said they couldn't convince the authorities that they weren't trying to go to the U.S. to work and would therefore be denied papers. But not refunded the $150 USD it cost them to apply.

[T]he cost of work permits and the green card application — which could total more than $20,000 — are prohibitive for low-wage earners.

[...]

"Charging that much, Bush is going to be even more expensive than the coyotes," said protester Armando Garcia, 50, referring to smugglers who transport people across the Mexican border.

Back to the drawing board, George.