The group of eight U.S. Senate members-who have been working on the immigration reform bill- is planning to submit next week a bill that will provide a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants and strengthen enforcement measures against future illegal immigration.

"This bill contains measures for strengthening the toughest immigration laws in the history of the United States. This legislation will be harder than any immigration bill from the past," a Congressional source told EFE, who also requested to remain anonymous.

According to the source, the bill could be up for debate on the week of May 6.

"This bill is still under development", but it will include a number of conditions for security at the borders and within the country that must be met within ten years before undocumented immigrants can apply for a "green card" or permanent residency.

The legislation would also create a registration system to prevent people with temporary visas to stay in the U.S. when their documents expire. And in addition, it would create a system to strengthen the enforcement of laws prohibiting the hiring of illegal immigrants.

Also, it will exclude the undocumented population from the benefits of the 2010 health reform for a period of at least 13 to 15 years. Thus, undocumented immigrants who initiate a process to obtain a temporary permit may not apply for public assistance from the federal government.

The initiative will also prohibit people with felonies, and some misdemeanors from applying for permanent residency.

Undocumented immigrants who apply for this "temporary permit" will have to meet a number of requirements for eventual permanent residence, including the payment of a fine and taxes, have jobs, have no criminal record and prove physical presence in the country through paperwork.

Assuming that the Republicans will demand as much time as possible, the debate in the Committee could last until the next legislative recess later this month, which means that the preliminary vote would occur as soon as the week of May 6, according to this source.

Editorial@Sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@Sandiegored.com