AP |
The Senators will preempt President
The Associated Press breaks down the four key tenets of the plan:
- Creating a path to citizenship for
illegal immigrants already here, contingent upon securing the border and better tracking of people here on visas. - Reforming the legal immigration system, including awarding green cards to immigrants who obtain advanced degrees in science, math, technology or engineering from an American university.
- Creating an effective employment verification system to ensure that employers do not hire illegal immigrants.
- Allowing more low-skill workers into the country and allowing employers to hire immigrants if they can demonstrate they couldn't recruit a U.S. citizen; and establishing an agricultural worker program.
Four Senators from each party are backing the proposed legislation. The Republicans are Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), and, notably, Sen.