US immigration bill clears hurdle

About 500,000 illegal immigrants are thought to arrive every year

The United States Senate has voted to limit debate on a sweeping overhaul of immigration law, clearing the way for the bill to be passed this week.

Senators voted 73-25 to advance the measure, which covers border security and plans to give illegal immigrants the chance to gain US citizenship.

The move heralds tough negotiations with the House of Representatives which has passed stricter measures.

About 11.5 million illegal immigrants live in the United States.

"We're now down the home stretch," said Sen John McCain who backs the compromise bill in the Senate, which is now likely to be passed on Thursday.

"We fought off a number of very clearly crafted amendments that would basically have destroyed the bill," he said.

Sen Edward Kennedy called the vote an "overwhelming show of force to move forward on our common sense and comprehensive plan for immigration reform".

President George W Bush, who backs an approach similar to the Senate bill, has repeatedly called on Congress to approve immigration reform.

But there is widespread resistance, with the issue dividing both the Republicans and the Democrats.

Fierce debate

Opponents argue that the Senate plan is too soft and that illegal immigration should be criminalised.

The Senate bill combines tougher border security with ways of allowing some illegal immigrants to seek US citizenship and provisions for guest-worker programmes.

US ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS About 11.5m illegal immigrants in the US Four out of 10 have been in US five years or less 75% were born in Latin America Most enter via southern US border California, Texas and Florida host most illegal immigrants Many work in agriculture, transport and construction Guide: Facts and figures Send us your comments

The House of Representatives bill, passed last December, includes tough new criminal measures and enforcement proposals to tackle illegal immigration.

Senator John Coryn, a Texas Republican, said it was "a 50-50 proposition" whether House Republicans would be willing to accept a comprehensive approach beyond their own measures.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist had predicted before Wednesday's vote that the bill would get "not overwhelming support but very strong support".

"The problem is too big, with millions of people coming across the border and with hundreds dying as they come across the border," Mr Frist told NBC television.

"We as a governing body cannot simply turn the other way and say we're not going to do anything about it."

The immigration issue has sparked fierce debate in the US and is high on the agenda as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress in November's mid-term elections.

It is not clear if final legislation will be cleared before then, correspondent say.

'Work together'

The immigration debate has also brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators - many of them Hispanic - onto the streets of Los Angeles, Chicago and other US cities.

President Bush has made immigration reform a priority

Last week, President Bush unveiled a five-point plan for reforms on immigration, an issue he said stirred "intense emotions".

His plan included strengthening borders, a temporary guest-worker scheme, and allowing some illegal immigrants to become citizens.

His proposals drew a sceptical response from Mexico and some border states.

Mexican President Vicente Fox, who is currently visiting the US, said that immigration was the most pressing challenge in his country's relationship with the US, but also the greatest opportunity.

"One cannot underestimate the importance of this moment and how complex this issue is for our two nations," he told the Utah legislature.

On Tuesday he said the two countries needed to work together to solve the immigration issue.

Mr Fox is also due to visit California and Washington during his four-day visit.