Follow-up: Immigration reform bill revived by Senate

Almost three weeks ago, the U.S. Senate voted against ending debate on a bipartisan immigration reform bill; thus endangering the possibility it would ever be considered. Yet earlier today, the Senate voted 64-35 to resume debate on the bill which contains the following provisions:

• creating a guest-worker program
• permit certain illegal immigrants to apply for a new visa
• increased border security

The proposal is expected to run into strong opposition though congressional chiefs like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have worked hard in support of the proposal:

"We have an immigration system that is broken and needs to be fixed," he said. "That is what we are trying to do, is fix this. We would be derelict in our duties if we did not make every effort to get the legislation passed."

Aside from the possibility that the bill may be defeated, another danger comes from several amendments that could dilute the compromise; they include barring illegal immigrants from obtaining green cards and stronger penalties against those who overstay their visas.

Sources- The Latin Americanist, BBC News, Monsters & Critics, Voice of America, Guardian UK

Image- ABC News (According to the photo’s caption “Immigration reform stalled in the Senate but remains a heated subject on the 2008 presidential campaign trail”)