Gutierrez' "Unity, Security, Accountability and Family Act" (USA Family Act, H.R. 440 ) would allow any illegal alien who had been in the U.S. for five years on January 29, 2003, and who had not been convicted of certain criminal or civil violations to apply for and automatically receive permanent resident alien status. Illegal aliens who had been in the U.S. for less than five years but met all of the other conditions of Gutierrez' bill would be granted "conditional" permanent resident alien status, including work authorization.

"If there weren't jobs for them to do - that those of us who were born in this country would never consider doing - we would not have them coming to this country," Gutierrez argued. "If you don't have a plan to deport them, if you don't have the resources and the will to deport them, then stop being an accomplice in their exploitation and allow them to benefit fully from their work."
Dr. Jose Mendez, executive director of the Global Evangelism Task Force, believes the millions of "undocumented workers" currently living in the U.S. are a resource the country simply cannot survive without.
"Controlled immigration of honest taxpayers, honest citizens, law-abiding citizens is good for this country," Mendez said. "Without a fresh flow of immigrants, it would be an impossible task to achieve the economic and social development of this country."