By this time next year, over 12 million people currently living in the United States may be automatic felons.

That’s how many illegal immigrants are in the U.S. currently awaiting their fate to be handed down. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are aiming to eliminate the perceived immigration problem with new legislation targeted specifically at immigrants.

The plan has met with mixed feelings from LZHS teachers and students.

“I like the idea of immigration, because America is a nation of immigrants, but I think immigrants should come in legally, not illegally…and they should learn English,” Carola Winges, German transfer student, said.

Others have somewhat different views regarding immigration.

“I’m a realist, in that our economy is based on immigrants. One of the five themes of civilization is people moving from place to place,” Libby Reimann, social studies teacher, said.

Legislation recently introduced in the House aims to make illegal immigration into the country a felony, as well as make it a crime for a citizen to help an illegal immigrant. The law would also require employers to check for documentation and Social Security numbers.

The House bill, although criminalizing many immigrants, their families and employers, does not include any measures to legalize immigrants currently living outside the law. In addition, no ideas were given for dealing with the millions of immigrants already in the U.S.

The equivalent Senate bill, on the other hand, includes stronger enforcement of border control and a guest-worker plan, which would allow hopeful immigrants an opportunity to temporarily settle in the United States and work.

Many other plans concerning immigration have been under debate, even though none are involved in the current legislation. Some possibilities include building a wall along the Mexican border and granting amnesty to immigrants.

“I’m not a fan of walls,” said Reimann, regarding the ‘walled border’ plan. “It didn’t work in Berlin, and Korea is a horribly torn place because of the wall. And now we want to build one here?”

In response to the proposed bills and debates taking place concerning immigration, marches were held across the nation on May 1, which participants dubbed “The Day without Immigrants.” Over 600,000 people attended, affecting many local businesses. California Pizza Kitchen, a Kildeer restaurant, was one of the hardest hit.

“We had half our usual staff,” said Brett Bialk, junior and CPK employee. “There were four managers working in the kitchen; we normally have 15 people back there. The menu was very limited; we could only offer customers a few things. [The protest] really hindered what we were capable of doing.”

Senators are aiming to vote on the bill by Memorial Day. No voting date has currently been set for the House bill.