Immigration Compromise Reached

Abipartisan group of senators today announced a “breakthrough” oncontroversial immigration legislation, as the Senate cleared the way for a voteon a compromise bill that would create a temporary worker program and offerlegal status to many of the nation’s 12 million illegal immigrants.

Republicansenators backing the compromise said President Bush supports the deal.
The compromise would give illegal immigrants who have been in the United Statesfor more than five years a chance to legalize their status and, eventually, tobecome U.S. citizens if they pay a fine and meet a series of requirements.Other rules would apply to those who have been in the country less than fiveyears but more than two years from the effective date of Jan. 7, 2004.

The compromiseproposal, crafted by Republican senators Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and MelMartinez of Florida, was introduced last night and “has moved this issueoff the dime,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a co-sponsor of animmigration bill that was cast aside today.

Shortlybefore he spoke, the Senate voted effectively to kill the immigration bill thathe and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) had introduced and that had passed theJudiciary Committee with the support of its chairman, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.).The Senate voted 60-39 against invoking cloture on the Judiciary Committee’sbill, essentially filibustering it to death by refusing to cut off debate sothat it could go to the Senate floor for a vote. The votes of at least 60senators were needed to invoke cloture.

TheSenate’s action cleared the way for consideration of a bill submitted by SenateMajority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) that includes the Hagel-Martinezcompromise.

Frist,Hagel and Martinez joined Specter, McCain, Kennedy and other senators in thebipartisan group that announced plans to go forward with their breakthroughbill, which they indicated could come to a vote tomorrow.
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Extraordinary Immigrant Deal

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