WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- The Senate voted Tuesday to revive a bill aimed at securing U.S. borders and providing illegal aliens with a path to citizenship.
The senators voted 64-35 for cloture, ending debate on the bill. The vote, however, does not ensure the compromise legislation will pass, The New York Times said, especially since votes are scheduled on a number of amendments.
President Bush, who supports the legislation, said he expects the measure to pass the Senate and move on to a vote in the House. He said the status quo on immigration is "unacceptable."
"I view this as a historic opportunity," he said.
Critics of the bill call say it provides amnesty for the millions of illegal immigrants now in the country. The bill also creates a guest-worker program and gives education and job skills higher priority than family ties for legal immigrants.
Two Republican senators, Kit Bond of Missouri and Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, said their support Tuesday didn't guarantee they will vote for the amended bill in the end.
