The US Senate is headed for a showdown over immigration reform today when legislators vote on whether to revive a bill that would legalise millions of unlawful immigrants.
Supporters expect a close vote on a motion to resume Senate debate on the legislation, which faltered this month in the face of opposition from conservative Republicans who called it an amnesty that would do little to stem illegal immigration.
The measure also faces opposition from some labour unions, who say its temporary worker programme, backed by business, will create an underclass of cheap workers. Immigrant groups opposed the bill's limits on family migration.
Legislators have said their offices have been flooded by calls from constituents opposed to the bill. Even so, Senator Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, and other supporters say they will get the 60 votes needed today to resume debate in the 100-member Senate.
Senate passage would represent a major victory for President George W. Bush, who has been urging his fellow Republicans to back him on the measure. But even if the Senate passes the legislation, it faces strong opposition in the US House of Representatives.
The compromise bill was brokered by a group of Republican and Democratic senators and the White House after months of talks. It combines tough border security and workplace enforcement measures with a plan to legalise an estimated 12 million unlawful immigrants, including Irish, and create a new temporary worker programme.
Supporters say that if the legislation stalls again in the Senate, lawmakers are unlikely to attempt to revive it again before next year's presidential election.
In an effort to help quell Republican opposition, Senate leaders have added to the legislation some $4.4 billion to pay for additional border security and enforcement measures.