US Senate Deal on Immigration Bill in Danger
07 April 2006
A bipartisan agreement reached in the U.S. Senate Thursday over an immigration reform bill now appears to be in jeopardy.
Illegal immigrants who have been in the United States for more than five years would have a chance to become citizens under the proposal. It would also give those who have been in the U.S. for at least two years the chance to get a temporary work visa.
But the deal began to fall apart late Thursday night as Republicans and Democrats clashed over procedural maneuvers. Democrats refused to allow votes on Republican amendments they said would derail the measure.
Leaders of both parties say if the disagreements are not resolved, the bill will not come to a final vote before Congress leaves for its traditional spring recess Friday.
Any Senate-passed legislation will have to be reconciled with a House-passed measure, which takes a much tougher stand against illegal immigration.
The House of Representatives has already passed a measure that would make it a felony to be an illegal immigrant, and impose heavy penalties on companies that hire them. That bill sparked protests in Los Angeles and other U.S. cities by immigrants and their supporters.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
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