The deal, which was announced last week, involves several issues like illegal immigration there are over 12 million illegal immigrants in the US.
WASHINGTON: Even as the Republican leadership has assured its members that the proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation will not be rushed through the floor, a survey says fewer than 20 Senators in the United States are committed to supporting the deal.
The deal, which was announced last week, involves several issues like illegal immigration there are over 12 million illegal immigrants in the US and increase in the number of H1B visas from the current 65,000 to 1,15,000.
According to a survey by The Washington Times, nearly 40 Senators are already opposed or have serious concerns over the deal, underscoring how difficult it will be for President George W Bush and his allies to craft a coalition that can pass the legislation in Senate and House of Representatives.
An additional 32 Senators are yet to take a position on the immigration deal, it states.
In fact, the survey has found 17 senators supporting the current bill and another two who lean toward supporting it; 17 who oppose it; 22 who have concerns; and 32 senators who are still reviewing it. Nine senators' positions couldn't be determined, and Senator Tim Johnson from South Dakota Democrat has been absent all year on medical grounds.
"I did not agree to any immigration deal and was not part of the negotiations," Republican Senator Jim Bunning from Kentucky has been quoted as saying.
"From what I have heard about the bill, it gives amnesty to the estimated 12.5 million illegal immigrants in this country".
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had said that he would insist that the guest-worker provision in the legislation be slashed from 4,00,000 per year down to 1,00,000 per year.
"I don't want a programme that is a funnel for cheap labour," he had said.
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