Late Monday Senate leadership announced that it would extend the time for debate on the comprehensive immigration reform bill into June. The announcement came as the Senate moved to bring up the legislation on Monday. The extended time for debate acknowledges that reaching a compromise within the Senate will be no easy feat as opposition from both sides of the aisle and on both sides of the issue intensifies over the Senate bill.
Among the contentious items that have faced increased scrutiny from both lawmakers and the public are provisions granting legal status to illegal immigrants, limitations on family-based immigration, establishment of a merits-based program for future immigrants, new penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants, and the creation of an expanded temporary worker program.
Despite having the support of the White House and key Senators from both parties, including Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA), passage of comprehensive immigration reform this year is not assured, especially as debate over the issue has begun to spill over into the developing presidential race for 2008.
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