WASHINGTON, April 6: A new immigration bill was introduced in the US Senate immigration on Wednesday night clearing the way for legal status and eventual citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in this country.
The revised legislation, introduced by the Republicans, came after efforts for a bipartisan compromise faltered earlier in the day and the Senate appeared moving towards a gridlock on the most sweeping immigration reforms in two decades.
Majority Leader Bill Frist outlined the proposal at the Senate hearing while Democratic leader Harry Reid pledged to review the Republican proposal overnight to see if it could be adopted as a bipartisan bill.
The proposed legislation would divide illegal immigrants into three categories:1) Those who had been in the country the longest, more than five years, would not be required to return to their home country before gaining legal status. They would be subject to several tests, including the payment of fines and back taxes, and be required to submit to a background check, according to these officials. 2) Illegal immigrants in the US less than five years but more than two would be required to go to a border point of entry, briefly leave and then be readmitted to the US. As with the longer-term illegal immigrants, other steps would be required for re-entry, after which they could begin seeking citizenship, these officials said. 3) Illegal immigrants in the US less than two years would be required to leave the country and join any other foreign residents seeking legal entry.
President Bush has repeatedly called for a comprehensive bill that included steps to deal with those living illegally in the country.
