Obama plans residency to illegal immigrants

A draft of a White House immigration proposal would allow illegal immigrants to become legal permanent residents within eight years, USA Today reported on Saturday.
The plan, obtained by the newspaper, also would provide for more security funding and require businesses to check the immigration status of new hires within four years. Illegal immigrants could also apply for a newly created "Lawful Prospective Immigrant" visa, under the draft bill, it said.
If approved, they could apply for the same provisional legal status for spouses or children living outside the country, according to the draft.
The White House has emphasized the importance of creating a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants who are in the United States illegally.
Latinos favoured President Barack Obama over Republican Mitt Romney in the November 6 election by 71 percent to 27 percent, helping tilt politically divided states to the Democratic incumbent.
Members of Congress also are drafting their own immigration bills. Last month, four Republican senators joined with four Democratic senators to announce their agreement on the general outlines of an immigration plan.