I was fairly shocked to find I agree, at least in part, with Jeb Bush on this issue.
http://www.npr.org/2013/03/05/173434603 ... immigrants
The part I agree with.. that allowing people to work and live here in dignity doesn't have to include a path to citizenship, and that we should not necessarily give automatic paths to citizen ship for most all relatives of those already here. (spouses, kids, parents.. but not other relatives).
I am not sure I would tie staying here legally to communitee service. Basically, I think that the policies that lead to a lot of illegal migration exploited the illegal immigrants as much as the average worker. It was mostly benefitted some sections of business. The exception to that would be those brought here as children. I think they absolutely should have the right to stay without threat of deportation, as long as they don't commit serious crimes. (no sending them home because they got a traffic ticket or littered as a teen... all kids are stupid at times). BUT, I am also not in favor of having "getting a degree" as some kind of ticket to citizenship. Why should someone who is not a citizen have the right to take the place of a citizen? Citizenship is a priviliage and also entails obligations not entailed by those here illegally (things like being subject to any potential draft, etc). Instead, I would let them stay, as long as they are not involved in serious crime (I would even include some minor drug offenses, perhaps). That much they do deserve. BUT, if they want to become a citizen, then they should have to do some kind of public service.. maybe join the military or maybe some other kind of work, something along the lines of the old CCC or Vista corps.
Another point with which I agree is that we need to change the rules for immigration entirely. On this I would go further than what he suggests. I would basically "open the borders" for anyone wanting to come here either as a tourist or to work. As long as they can support themselves or have someone else support them, they can stay (the "someone else" would be better tracked than now for all but kids and parents of those residing here-- there are other systems in place to make sure kids and the elderly are not living on the streets alone). An important point.. some kind of medical coverage would be part of "supporting themselves". Also, they need a way to return home if not on a path to citizenship.
HOWEVER, where I would differ significantly is in the requirements for employment. I would require that employers demonstrate that they cannot readily hire a legal citizen before being able to hire a non-citizen, though there should be provisions for specific "exchange" type programs, folks cooperating on science or business projects and so forth. I would be careful about educational exchanges, simply because its way to easy to have our system become a "farming" system of educating those overseas at the expense of our current citizens. Colleges absolutely and completely benefit from having a diverse population, including foreign students, but when economic times are bad its too easy for colleges to make room for foreign students weilding nice checks and not make room for citizen kids who need financial aid. Our society, however, depends upon our citizens being well educated, not on educating kids from other countries.
Beyond that, while I would place no citizenship requirement on hiring of people, once a non-immigrant is hired, I would expect a portion of their pay to be deducted to pay for local, state and federal services not covered by basic income taxes. The amount might not be enough to truly pay incurred costs
