Proposed immigration rules altered

WASHINGTON, March 22 (UPI) -- Top U.S. officials have altered proposed illegal immigration regulations in an attempt to satisfy a federal judge's ruling on the employment initiative.

Members of President George Bush's administration have made minor changes to the proposed rules in an attempt to gain the support of U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, who blocked the proposal as part of an ongoing lawsuit, The Washington Times reported Saturday.

The lawsuit before Breyer revolves around a proposed plan to contact 140,000 U.S. employers regarding suspect Social Security numbers in an effort to uncover illegal immigrants.

The suit was brought before the San Francisco judge by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Civil Liberties Union, who allege the plan is discriminatory and would be problematic.

The Times said the changes were primarily technical in nature and the resumed push could intensify the ongoing controversy surrounding the government's efforts to control illegal immigration.