With the current immigration reform debates the question of amnesty has often come up. Amnesty is more than just a pardon, it removes all legal remembrance of the offense and restores any persons guilty of an offense to the position of innocence.

The proposed immigration reform measure will not provide amnesty for those currently residing and working illegally in the United States. The Z visa will require illegal immigrants who want to stay in the United States to pay a penalty for breaking the law. Illegal immigrants will pay their debt to society by paying taxes, learning English, and work in a job for a number of years.

After meeting the requirements of the Z visa individuals may apply for citizenship. The Z visa is not amnesty, as it does not restore innocence to illegal immigrant workers, but it will allow those who have broken the immigration laws to prove themselves to be good citizens by working hard to follow the immigration reform measure being debated.