Immigration Reform debate is now just around the corner

They will aim to vote on it before July 4

Beginning next Tuesday, the U.S. Senate will start the formal debate on the immigration reform for the legalization and eventual citizenship for the undocumented population in the U.S., with the aim of submitting it to be voted on before July 4.

This is the largest U.S. immigration reform since 1986 when, under the presidency of Ronald Reagan, 3 million undocumented immigrants were able to adjust their legal status. Back in 2007 an immigration reform had already failed amid partisan struggles.

President Barack Obama used his speech on Saturday to urge the Senate to quickly approve the reform plan, and asked for the public's help to keep the pressure on Congress.

"If we are to truly fix a broken system, we need Congress to act in a comprehensive manner," so the debate in the Senate starting next week "is very important," said Obama.

The Senate on Tuesday will begin to debate over the bill that was drafted by the so-called "Group of Eight"-four Democrats and four Republicans- and that was endorsed by the Judicial Committee of the Senate on May 21.

Several Republicans, including Sen. John Cornyn, have made it clear that they will push for changes to the bill.

The Office of the Democratic Majority Leader of the Senate, Harry Reid, said it will have process that will be open and transparent to discuss amendments to improve, but not derail, the immigration reform.

"Senator Reid believes that Senator Cornyn’s amendment aims to bring down the path to citizenship in the bill. Therefore, Senator Reid believes that this amendment is a poison pill that seeks to sink the project rather than improve it," said to Efe a spokesman for Reid, Jose Parra.

Alabama’s Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions reiterated his position on immigration reform, that just as it was written; it will not stop the flow of illegal immigration in the future.

"This bill is an amnesty first, promising to enforce the laws later on and weakens and undermines the current law. It will never be applied effectively," complained Sessions.

Among its main components, the initiative establishes the strengthening of border security, a period of 13 years for the legalization and eventual citizenship for undocumented immigrants, sanctions for businesses that knowingly hire workers "without papers", and increased visas for foreigners with high labor skills and agricultural workers.

Editiorail@Sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@Sandiegored.com

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