The Senate to Take Up Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The Senate reconvened on Wednesday, January 19, 2006 for the Second Session of the 109th Congress. According to Senate leadership, we can anticipate a debate on measures that address comprehensive immigration reform in early March, following the Alito confirmation hearing and hearings on the NSA domestic wiretapping program. We expect that the Senate will go beyond the House’s enforcement only approach and we have reason to believe that a temporary worker program will be part of the Senate’s reform bill.

The discussion will begin in the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA). The committee will continue to examine proposals from Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Kennedy (D-MA), Senator Hagel (R-NE) and from Senators Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyl (R-AZ).