Immigration Reform Makes it Through the Senate

The U.S. Senate has approved the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 by a vote of 68 to 32. The measure includes provisions to allow current undocumented ag workers to gain citizenship after working another five years in agriculture and create a new guest worker program. The measure was not supported by Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran or committee members Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Saxby Chambliss of Georgia. Chambliss argued the ag provisions made it too easy for farm workers to gain citizenship and wouldn’t create a stable workforce. He tried to make changes through a series of amendments – but the leadership didn’t allow them to come to a vote. House Speaker John Boehner says the House will not take up the Senate-approved measure. He says they will do their own bill – through regular order – and it will be legislation that reflects the will of the majority and the will of the American people.