US Senate leaders have declared a breakthrough on a long-sought overhaul of the country's immigration law, clearing the path to possible citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants, if among other things, they register for military service.Bill Frist, the Senate Republican majority leader and Harry Reid, the leading Democrat in the Senate, said while some details still had to be worked out, they expected the Senate to pass a comprehensive reform package shortly. Frist, at a news conference with Reid and a dozen other Republicans and Democrats, said: "We've had a huge breakthrough ... that will lead us to the conclusion of passing a very important bill."
The deal centres on a compromise offered by Republicans that included a temporary worker programme backed by George Bush, the president. It also would allow illegal immigrants who have been in the US for more than five years a chance to become citizens, if they meet a series of requirements - including registering for military service - and pay a fine.
| Twenty years from now they're going to be doing the exact same thing all over again, with many of the same players spouting exactly the same arguments. |