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| US immigration bill passes Senate panel | US immigration bill passes Senate panel |
| (44 minutes later) | |
| A sweeping immigration bill that would offer a chance of citizenship to millions living in the US illegally has taken a stride forward in Congress. | A sweeping immigration bill that would offer a chance of citizenship to millions living in the US illegally has taken a stride forward in Congress. |
| A Senate panel voted 13-5 to back the measure, after a plan to allow people to sponsor same-sex partners for permanent legal status was withdrawn. | A Senate panel voted 13-5 to back the measure, after a plan to allow people to sponsor same-sex partners for permanent legal status was withdrawn. |
| The full Senate will now debate the bill next month. | The full Senate will now debate the bill next month. |
| America's last major immigration reform drive was in 2007, when a bipartisan bill failed in the Senate. | America's last major immigration reform drive was in 2007, when a bipartisan bill failed in the Senate. |
| After Tuesday evening's vote, immigration activists who had crowded into the Senate committee room cheered. | After Tuesday evening's vote, immigration activists who had crowded into the Senate committee room cheered. |
| Republican support | |
| In a statement, US President Barack Obama congratulated the Senate Judiciary Committee. | In a statement, US President Barack Obama congratulated the Senate Judiciary Committee. |
| He said the bill was "largely consistent with the principles of common sense reform I have proposed and meets the challenge of fixing our broken immigration system". Mr Obama added he was "hopeful" the amendment process would "lead to further improvements". | |
| Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he would not block the measure from coming to the floor for a full debate, but has not said how he plans to vote. | Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he would not block the measure from coming to the floor for a full debate, but has not said how he plans to vote. |
| Three Republicans joined all 10 Democrats on the committee in voting for the bill. | |
| At the centre of the legislation is a provision that allows the estimated 11 million people living in the US illegally to obtain "registered provisional immigrant status", six months after the bill's enactment if certain conditions are met. | At the centre of the legislation is a provision that allows the estimated 11 million people living in the US illegally to obtain "registered provisional immigrant status", six months after the bill's enactment if certain conditions are met. |
| That status is the beginning of a 13-year process that would allow immigrants to become US citizens. | That status is the beginning of a 13-year process that would allow immigrants to become US citizens. |
| The bill also includes provisions to strengthen border security along the US-Mexican border. | The bill also includes provisions to strengthen border security along the US-Mexican border. |
| The legislation has grown to 900 pages, but two last-minute changes were made to ensure the bill's success in committee. | The legislation has grown to 900 pages, but two last-minute changes were made to ensure the bill's success in committee. |
| The number of visas were increased for hi-tech US companies that want to hire more skilled workers from countries like India and China. | The number of visas were increased for hi-tech US companies that want to hire more skilled workers from countries like India and China. |
| 'Wrong moment' | |
| The president of the powerful AFL-CIO union group, Rich Trumka, attacked the deal as "anti-worker", but said organised labour would continue to support the larger bill. | The president of the powerful AFL-CIO union group, Rich Trumka, attacked the deal as "anti-worker", but said organised labour would continue to support the larger bill. |
| Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, called for a debate over his proposal to give same-sex and heterosexual spouses equal rights under immigration law, before ultimately withdrawing it from the bill. | Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, called for a debate over his proposal to give same-sex and heterosexual spouses equal rights under immigration law, before ultimately withdrawing it from the bill. |
| "I don't want to be the senator who asks people to choose between the love of their life and the love of their country," Sen Leahy said. | "I don't want to be the senator who asks people to choose between the love of their life and the love of their country," Sen Leahy said. |
| The bill's supporters asked the committee chair to remove the same-sex proposal in order to prevent a vote that would kill the legislation. | |
| "I believe in my heart of hearts that what you're doing is the right and just thing,'' Democrat Senator Richard Durbin said. "But I believe this is the wrong moment, that this is the wrong bill." | "I believe in my heart of hearts that what you're doing is the right and just thing,'' Democrat Senator Richard Durbin said. "But I believe this is the wrong moment, that this is the wrong bill." |
| The legislation follows Mr Obama's announcement last June that the US would allow young undocumented workers who immigrated as children to apply for two-year, renewable visas. | The legislation follows Mr Obama's announcement last June that the US would allow young undocumented workers who immigrated as children to apply for two-year, renewable visas. |