By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer 41 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted Tuesday to jump-start a stalled immigration measure to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants. President Bush said the bill offered a "historic opportunity for Congress to act," and appeared optimistic about its passage by week's end.

The pivotal test-vote was 64-35 to revive the divisive legislation. It still faces formidable obstacles in the Senate, including bitter opposition by GOP conservatives and attempts by some waverers in both parties to revise its key elements.
Supporters needed 60 votes to scale procedural hurdles and return to the bill. A similar test-vote earlier this month found just 45 supporters, only seven of them Republicans. This time, 24 Republicans joined 39 Democrats and independent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, to back moving ahead with the bill. Opposing the move were 25 Republicans, nine Democrats and independent Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., an architect of the bill, said he was proud of the vote, calling it "a major step forward for our national security, for our economy, and for our humanity."

"We did the right thing today because we know the American people sent us here to act on our most urgent problems. We know they will not stand for small political factions getting in the way," Kennedy said in a statement following the vote.


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The way Eddie thinks of Independence Day coming a week ahead seems to be so hard to digest as just think of 25 GOP who opposed the bill, and if 5 others can walk out, this bill would collapse in no second.

There are still two dozen amendments left to be debated before the final vote in the senate. The chances of the final vote dont look too promising in the senate. It's even more bleak in the house. But some version of hte bill will probably get passed eventually.

SantoshGiri, do you know how long the I-130 petition is currently taking place right now? I am in the process of filing it, and just wanted to figure out whehter i should worry about all this potential legislative change.

Hmm..Ted Kennedy is jumping too much to pass his unfair bill.

what would you do with 12 million illegal immigrants ?
i liked one of the republician senator from Iowa saying displace it with legal.Don't reward illegal.More h1B and guest worker program.Stricter enforcement on hiring illigal.

When they realize is there is no point coming here illegally then they won't come.

There should be no amnesty!Rewarding legality hasn't worked in past and will not work again .1987 they made 1 million illegal legal now the result 12 million illegal .Now if they make 12 million legal in 20 years there will be 20 million illegal.

wall , more money in border reinforcement doesn't work and will not work.But Legal can displace illegal.

In USA

In Nepal

Two questions:
1. If somebody has already filed I-130, does it become void after amendments of the bills?
2. If you are US GC holder and your wife is Nepal and has not filed I -130, can you take her US after getting citizenship? or do you have to suggest file I-130?
Regards,
Dande

Whats the details on this bil??l