Republican Senate candidate David Kramer on Monday proposed an immigration reform plan that opens the door to legal status for illegal workers who have been in the United States for five years or more.

The comprehensive proposal increases immigration quotas and focuses on assimilation of legal immigrants into U.S. society while toughening border security and strengthening intelligence-sharing.

Kramer also called for U.S. foreign policy initiatives and aid programs targeted at creating more economic opportunities in nations with high rates of illegal immigration into the United States as a means of staunching the illegal flow.

As the son of an immigrant mother from Panama, Kramer said, he believes he is “uniquely qualified to take a leadership role in the debate on immigration.”

In devising his plan, Kramer rejected outright amnesty for illegal workers already in the United States and guest worker proposals that would tie workers to employers.

“I believe that the fundamental principle that should guide future legal immigration is assimilation,” he said.

“Learning to speak English, learning American history, understanding our political system and embracing the concept of being an ‘American’ are all critical components of successful assimilation,” he said.

“Future immigration should focus on those who wish to become permanent, contributing members of our communities.”

Kramer’s plan won immediate praise from Milo Mumgaard, executive director of the Nebraska Appleseed Center, a leading advocate for immigrant workers.

“Very impressively, he is advocating a direct approach to dealing with our presently broken system and recognizing we have to bring people out of the shadows, give them a chance to reasonably get straight with the law, and give them a path to citizenship,” Mumgaard said.

“The irresponsible fringe is armed for bear on immigration reform. Lots of political advisers are telling candidates the way to go is hard-line, so it’s heartening to see David Kramer — as committed a Republican as you’ll ever find — talk responsibly with some good ideas that reflect the majority on this issue rather than the loud minority.”

Kramer would establish what he described as “a series of rigorous standards” that illegal immigrant workers must meet in order to remain in the United States.

Only those who have been working in the country for at least four years, and living here at least five years, would be eligible and they would need to qualify within three months after enactment of his plan.

Requirements include full payment of taxes, registration with Selective Service, clearing national security and criminal background checks, achieving proficiency in English, paying $500 in fees and a civil penalty of $500 for each year of illegal residence.

After a probationary period of five years, they would be eligible to apply for citizenship.

“While amnesty is not acceptable,” Kramer said, “it is not realistic to expect we can deport all or even the vast majority of the 8 (million) to 11 million illegal immigrants currently residing within our borders.

“Despite the fact that they entered this country illegally, many of these individuals have become contributing members of our communities,” he said.

“What nobody’s talking about,” Kramer said in a telephone interview, is the economic disparity that drives people across the border illegally at the risk of death to seek a better life.

If immigration reform is to be successful, he said, “a critical component will be helping provide economic opportunity in the country of origin.”

The United States should consider an economic development package particularly targeted to assist Mexico, he said.

Kramer said he has seen the extraordinary economic challenges confronting other people first-hand. He worked on democratic development projects in Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Ukraine in the 1990s.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.