US lawmakers propose immigration reform deal
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A bipartisan group of top senators on Monday proposed a pathway to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States (US), a plan hailed by the White House.
The proposal, unveiled by four Democrats and four Republicans after weeks of talks, appears to be the most serious attempt at immigration reform since 2007, when then president George W. Bush's effort failed to get through Congress.
President Barack Obama has made it clear that reforming what many have described as a "broken" immigration system is to be a top priority of his second term, which began on Jan 20.
The plan unveiled Monday by Republicans such as John McCain and Marco Rubio and Democrats Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer and Robert Menendez would provide a "tough but fair" pathway to citizenship for most undocumented immigrants.
