Washington – A guest-worker program for illegal immigrants can start without proof that the nation’s borders are secure, U.S. senators decided Tuesday as they embarked on shaping an immigration measure.
Senators took key votes that show a bipartisan coalition is holding together in support of a guest-worker plan and a path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants.
Senators overwhelmingly approved a bill amendment from Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., that smooths the path for a foreign-worker program. The Senate also rejected amendments that would have blocked or limited a guest-worker program.
The votes show the Senate’s direction on immigration reform differs starkly from that of the U.S. House. A House bill passed in December beefs up border security, criminalizes illegal immigration and does not offer any guest-worker or citizenship provision for undocumented immigrants.
If the two bodies ultimately fail to agree on terms of a bill, immigration reform would die in Congress for this year. Salazar has said he is optimistic the Senate and House can agree on legislation. Others disagree.
“I don’t think it has a prayer of passing in the House, at least as currently defined,” Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Arvada, said of the Senate’s current package. “The Senate is out of touch with the vast majority of people in Colorado and I think the vast majority of people in America.”
Salazar’s growing role in the immigration reform movement became clearer Tuesday. He revealed that he is part of a group of Republicans and Democrats who meet daily to map out strategy for passing the legislation. The group of about 20 to 22 people, evenly divided between political parties, includes such veteran senators as John McCain, R-Ariz.; Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn.
“We’re going to take it a day at a time,” Salazar said of the group’s strategy. “We know that there are some amendments that go to the guts of the bill, that will kill the bill, and we need to resist those amendments and defeat them.”
Several observers said the votes Tuesday show that the Senate increasingly is likely to pass reform similar to the plan pushed Monday by President Bush in a televised address.
The Senate votes Tuesday came on amendments to the larger bill, which includes provisions to enhance border security, create a guest-worker program, and offer a multi-year route to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants.
Senators set the tone early with their 55-40 vote rejecting a bill amendment that would have required certain border-securing steps to be met before a guest-worker program could begin. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., voted for the amendment from Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., while Salazar voted against, as did 18 Republicans.
Senators also voted 69-28 against a proposal by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-Neb., to restrict a guest-worker program to immigrants already in the country.
Senators approved Salazar’s amendment on a 79-16 vote. It allows a guest-worker program to begin if the president states it would enhance national security.
Allard voted against Salazar’s amendment.
“It really didn’t do anything substantive,” Allard spokeswoman Angela de Rocha said of Salazar’s amendment. “It really didn’t move the ball down the field in terms of securing the border.”
Allard’s office said Tuesday that an amendment he sponsored has been folded into the immigration bill. It bars anyone who advocates terrorism from getting an OK to enter the U.S.
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