US Senate Votes to Open Debate on Immigration Bill

June 15, 2013

A total of 543 organizations that support immigration reform delivered a letter to President Barack Obama in which they ask "a halt to deportations now." (Photo: Mitzi Macias)

Earlier this week, the United States Senate voted to begin debate on a historic immigration bill. The proposed law would offer a chance for more than 11 million undocumented immigrants, those not in the country legally, to become American citizens. It would also increase the number of foreign temporary technology workers at a time when American technology workers face high unemployment.

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said this is “the best chance in years” to achieve “common sense reform.” He called on Congress to approve the bill.

“If you genuinely believe we need to fix our broken immigration system, there's no good reason to stand in the way of this bill.”

The vote to permit debate passed easily, 82-15. It clears the way for discussions that political observers say could extend through the rest of the month. The legislation establishes a 13-year citizenship process for immigrants who arrived in the United States illegally.

Public opinion studies released Thursday suggest wide support for the main reforms. People in 29 states were asked questions about immigration. A majority supported reforms that included stronger border security, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and laws to block employers from hiring people living in the United States illegally.