Washington – The fragile compromise on immigration reform held together Tuesday as the Senate marched toward its first vote on legislation that would allow an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to stay in the country legally.
Senators voted on amendments and, by a wide margin, rejected one from Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., that would have stripped out extra consideration given undocumented workers and agricultural workers applying for permanent residency.
Allard’s amendment failed on a 62-31 vote, a tally that could indicate where the Senate stands on the larger bill. The Colorado Republican targeted one of the most controversial issues in the legislation, legal status for illegal immigrants.
“We should not reward those who have broken the law,” Allard said. “And we certainly should not punish those that have abided by the law.”
Allard’s amendment sought to eliminate the points given to all illegal immigrants in the bill’s new green-card system, including a category to deal with agricultural workers that Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., worked to insert into the bill.
Salazar, who was among the group of about 12 senators who crafted the bill, said immigration reform must address farmers’ and ranchers’ needs.
“It would significantly undo the (agricultural) jobs provision of the legislation,” Salazar said of Allard’s amendment. Portions of the bill dealing with agricultural workers were negotiated with farming groups, workers groups and the business community, he said.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Tuesday called for an end to the amendments and a vote on the bill. A procedural vote before a vote on the final legislation could happen today or Thursday. “We’re not spending another week or two on this bill,” Reid said.
The bill allows illegal immigrants to register and, after a background check, to obtain a “Z” visa that lets them stay in the country legally.
After paying fines, learning English, meeting other requirements and waiting eight years, they can get in line to obtain a green card. A green card allows immigrants to stay permanently in the U.S. and, if they choose, to apply for citizenship.
Under the bill, future green cards would be awarded under a system that gives points for education, special skills, family ties and other criteria.
Both the Z visa holders and immigrants who sign as agricultural workers under a separate program would earn points for having worked in the country.
“Holders of Z visas are, by definition, lawbreakers,” Allard said on the Senate floor. “In fact, this bill specifically requires that an alien prove that he or she broke the law in order to even be eligible for the Z visa.”
Agricultural workers in Colorado may apply for permanent residency “if they come in legally,” Allard said.
Under the bill, illegal immigrants “gain an advantage over those that came in legally. I don’t think that’s fair, personally,” he said.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., on the Senate floor called the Allard amendment “a veiled attempt to keep the undocumented workers from ever obtaining permanent residence.”
Both Allard and Salazar said they think the bill probably will pass. Allard believes it could get 60 votes or more, and Salazar said: “We could end up with 70 votes on this bill.”
Staff writer Anne Mulkern can be reached at 202-662-8907 or amulkern@denverpost.com.
