http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060406/pl_ ... tion_dc_11


Senators seal immigration deal


5 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate leaders on Thursday announced a bipartisan compromise on an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws, giving some illegal immigrants a path to citizenship and creating a temporary worker program.


"I think we're looking like we may be able to dance this afternoon," Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada told reporters.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, appeared with Reid and said "We have a great opportunity to deliver to the American people what they expect, what they deserve," a comprehensive border security and immigration reform bill.

The deal, which would include a temporary worker program backed by President George W. Bush, would allow illegal immigrants who have been in the United States more than five years a chance to become citizens if they meet a series of requirements and paid a fine. Other rules would apply to people in the country less than five years.

"We still have obstacles ahead," said Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), an Arizona Republican who helped lead the debate. McCain cited some pending amendments that could gut the compromise as well as eventual negotiations with the House of Representatives, which passed a much harsher bill that concentrated only on border security and enforcement of immigration laws.

McCain said Bush supports the compromise. Bush was expected to make a statement shortly.

The Senate compromise would give illegal immigrants who had been in the United States less than five years but more than two years a chance to obtain a temporary work visa. They would have to leave the country and reapply to come back. Those who had been in the country less than two years would not be legalized.