On Thursday the Senate passed S. 744, a sweeping bill to reform America's immigration policies. A broad security compromise recently amended to the bipartisan bill secured its ultimate passage by a 68-32 vote.
The 1,200 page bill allows a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants currently living in the country illegally. The bill, the first to reform the nation’s immigration policies since 1986,is estimated to potentially cut the federal defect by $900 billion over the next 20 years.
The bill's next stop is the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, a destination where, if voted on today without revisions, would notlikely pass.
What is commonly known as the border security “surge” was the key amendment that ensured the bill’s passage.
Over the next ten years the surge would add about 20,000 new U.S. Border Patrol agents to the existing 21,000. It will also add new radar and surveillance systems. The total cost is projected to be $30 billion.
