Senate Puts Off Action on Immigration (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Senate Puts Off Action on Immigration
Senate Puts Off Final Action on Bipartisan Immigration
Deal Until June

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON May 21, 2007 (AP)

Senate leaders agreed Monday that they would wait until June
to take final action on a bipartisan plan to give millions of
unlawful immigrants legal status.

The measure, which also tightens border security and workplace
enforcement measures, unites a group of influential liberals,
centrists and conservatives and has White House backing, but it
has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. In a nod
to that opposition, Senate leaders won't seek to complete it
before a hoped-for Memorial Day deadline.

"It would be to the best interests of the Senate ... that we not
try to finish this bill this week," said Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid, D-Nev., as the chamber began debate on the volatile
issue. "I think we could, but I'm afraid the conclusion wouldn't
be anything that anyone wanted."

The bipartisan compromise cleared its first hurdle Monday with a
bipartisan Senate vote to begin debate on a separate immigration
measure. Still, it faces significant obstacles as lawmakers seek
dozens of modifications to its key elements.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3198291

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Source: Reuters

Opposition to U.S. immigration bill intensifies

By Donna Smith
Reuters
Monday, May 21, 2007; 6:37 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Opposition to a compromise immigration
overhaul grew on Monday, with labor unions and Hispanic groups
saying the deal brokered by leading U.S. senators and the White
House was bad for workers, families and employers.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, one of the country's
oldest and largest Hispanic groups, said it opposed the plan's limits
on family-based immigration. A labor union and another Hispanic
group said they would work to change the proposed law as it
moves through Congress.

The opposition emerged as the Senate began debating the
compromise plan, brokered in closed-door talks between White
House officials and about a dozen Republican and Democratic
senators.

-snip-

In addition to limits on family-based immigration, the citizens league
said it also opposed the temporary worker program because it would
require laborers to return home for a year after each two-year work
period. Temporary workers would be allowed a total of three two-
year visas.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/21/AR2007052101264.html