New Life in U.S. Senate Immigration Bill

Jun 15, 08:40 AM

Current Headlines: U.S. Senate majority and minority leaders issued a statement saying stalled debate on immigration reform will resume next week.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., didn't elaborate on the deal they struck to revive debate but said ongoing debate on an energy bill would take up the next few days.

Reid pulled the bill last week when Republicans blocked efforts to advance the bill to a vote.

Senate sources said part of the deal to renew debate was that about 22 amendments would be considered, The Washington Post said Friday.

The bill would link new border controls and a crackdown on employers who hire illegal immigrants with provisions to grant legal status to the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country. Fines paid by the immigrants would help fund further border security, The New York Times reported.

Thursday, U.S. President George Bush rebuffed conservatives' call for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, calling it totally impractical.