Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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June 23, 2007

US Senate to Reconsider Immigration Reform Next Week
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=17EB537:A6F02AD83191E1600D08FFF6491B1D4D9574F7DCC14957C0 Measure blocked by
opposition Republicans earlier this month, and fate remains unclear
The U.S. Senate next week is expected to make another effort to pass a
sweeping immigration reform bill.  The measure was blocked by
opposition Republicans earlier this month, and its fate remains
unclear, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.





Under pressure from President Bush, for whom immigration reform is a
top legislative priority, Senate leaders agreed to reconsider the
comprehensive bill aimed at overhauling the nation's immigration
system.

The measure would tighten border security, create a temporary guest
worker program and offer the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants
in the United States a possible path to citizenship. 

Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, is a supporter of the
bill.

"To become a citizen, immigrants in the country illegally will have to
demonstrate a real dedication to our country," she said.  "They will
have to work to hold their visas, they will have to pay a fine, they
will have to learn our language, and they do have to do this over a
substantial period of time.  This won't happen overnight."

Supporters hope more Republicans will back the bill this time. 
Earlier this month, minority Republicans used procedural tactics to
block the bill from coming to a vote. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, says a newly
proposed amendment to provide $4 billion for border security, funded
by fees and fines paid by undocumented workers, should help ease
Republican concerns that the legislation does not go far enough to
securing U.S. borders:







Rep. Harry Reid (16 Feb 2007)"This bill is great with border with
security," he said.  "Why?  Because it has $4.4 billion of mandated
spending for border security.  It is such a better bill, and for that
reason, it should pass."

But many Republicans are skeptical of the proposal, and many others
remain concerned that the legislation rewards immigrants who entered
the United States illegally with the promise of citizenship.

"We are going to send a message around the world that all you have to
do is get into our country illegally and you will be made a citizen,"
said Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican.

Some Republican opponents are vowing to try to block the bill a second
time.

"Many of us are going to use every procedural tool we can to try to
stop this bill," said Senator Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican.

Although Senate Democratic leader Reid remains hopeful about the
bill's passage, Republican leader Mitch McConnell is more cautious. 
McConnell says he is not even sure how he will vote on the legislation
until action on all amendments is completed.

The House of Representatives has yet to draft its own immigration
reform bill.