US Senate begins debate on controversial immigration overhaul bill

The USA Senate has begun the debate on the new bill intended to fix the country’s broken immigration system, with a vote due to be taken by month’s end.

The controversial bill enjoys bipartisan support within the Senate, but is expected to struggle in the House of Representatives, which is at present preparing its own version. Republicans are criticising a major plank of the Senate bill which provides a 13-year long road to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

According to the Senate’s majority leader Harry Reid, who opened the debate last Friday, the support for the common-sense approach of the new bill is gratifying. He added that, if finally passed, it would ensure the country’s safety and help undocumented migrants become legal citizens.

Republican Senator John McCain, one of the bill’s leading advocates, said he was confident of the 60 votes which would be needed to move the bill to its next stage. Mc Cain admits there are snags in its border security programme, but added that he was sure such concerns could be resolved.

However, a strong Republican sector believes that it would be unjust to repel deserving immigrants whilst allowing illegals to become citizens, however long the process takes. Others are voicing concerns over a perceived lack of deportation orders for convicted criminals, even although around 200,000 were deported by immigration in 2012.

Many Republicans are supporting the bill due to the huge Hispanic support given to President Obama during the last election. US citizens of Hispanic origin are now a powerful voter block and, Republicans believe, will need to be convinced that their interests are being taken seriously.