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Turning now to a major development in one of the most contentious issues in the U.S.
In the first overhaul of immigration law in decades, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill
forged by Democrats and Republicans that could grant 11 million undocumented immigrants with
legal status and a path to citizenship.
Ji Myung-kil has more. The U.S. Senate has passed a sweeping immigration bill that would
give a chance for millions of unauthorized immigrants to become U.S. citizens.
"The yays on this bill are 68 the nays are 32. The Bill as amended is passed."
After years of failed attempts to pass the bill.14 Republicans voted in favor of it in
the Democratic-controlled Senate.
During the Senate debate,.supporters and opponents of the bill made their feelings very clear.
"Tell me how it's better for America to continue amnesty which is doing nothing, paying people
under the table, with no regulation. How does that help the American worker to compete against
some person who's being paid under the table? This bill stops that."
"I don't believe that the promises made in this bill will ever be kept. I don't believe
we will ever have an extra thousand border patrol agents. I don't believe the huge investment
in technology will ever be made."
The sweeping immigration bill will also direct more than 46 billion U.S. dollars into securing
the border with Mexico and revamping the U.S. visa system.
After the vote, President Obama urged lawmakers to pass the bill in U.S. House of Representatives,
but Republican House Speaker John Boehner has said he will not advance legislation that
lacks support of most of his party,. casting doubt on whether the bill will ever make it
to Obama's desk.
The president identified immigration reform as one of his key policy priorities for his
second term in office. Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News.