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The Illegal immigration into the United States
Bush has sought an overhaul of immigration laws for years and this bill may be his last chance for a significant domestic legislative victory before leaving office in a year and a half.
But he has encountered fierce opposition from many fellow Republicans who say the bill would do little to stem the flow of .
The bill ties tough border security and workplace enforcement measures to a plan to legalize an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants and create a temporary worker program sought by business groups.
Senators beat back an amendment that would have required illegal immigrants to return to their home country within two years in order to obtain a "Z" visa that would allow them to live and work legally in the United States. The Senate is expected later to consider a less stringent amendment requiring heads of households to return to their home countries.
Senators also killed a measure that would have limited the legalization program to those who have lived in the United States at least four years.
Another measure that would have blocked illegal immigrants from becoming U.S. citizens also failed, and senators defeated an amendment that would have given more weight to family ties in a new merit based system for future immigrants.
Republican opponents say momentum is building against the legislation they call an amnesty for people who broke U.S. laws.
If supporters fail to win the 60 votes necessary to advance the bill in the 100-member Senate, lawmakers are unlikely to return to comprehensive immigration reform before next year's presidential election.
Abogados June 27, 2007 10:00 PM | Preguntas Para Abogados
