REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC SENATE LEADERS AGREED ON THURSDAY ON A PLAN TO REVIVE A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS A CHANCE TO EARN U.S. CITIZENSHIP, REUTERS REPORTED. THE SWEEPING IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL, WHICH HAS TRIGGERED RALLIES BY MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IS EXPECTED TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE SENATE NEXT WEEK. DESPITE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BILL FRIST AND DEMOCRATIC LEADER HARRY REID OF NEVADA, THE OUTCOME OF THE LEGISLATION REMAINS IN DOUBT. IT FACES OPPOSITION FROM SOME REPUBLICANS WHO SAY IT GIVES AMNESTY TO PEOPLE WHO BROKE U.S. LAWS. FRIST SAID OPPONENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO OFFER "A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS" TO THE BILL. IN RETURN, DEMOCRATS WON ASSURANCE THAT THE BILL'S BACKERS WILL HAVE INPUT IN EVENTUAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE HOUSE PASSED A TOUGH BORDER SECURITY BILL THAT WOULD FURTHER CRIMINALIZE ILLEGAL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE TWO BILLS WILL HAVE TO BE MERGED. THE HOUSE BILL, WHICH WOULD MAKE ILLEGAL PRESENCE A FELONY INSTEAD OF A CIVIL OFFENSE, HAS DRAWN HUGE PROTESTS AROUND THE COUNTRY FROM HISPANIC GROUPS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS. --MORE
