Immigration Moves To Front Burner In D.C.

04:56

January 28, 2013

Diana Saravia, 10, of Beltsville, Md., left, demonstrates, along with members of immigration rights organizations, in front of the White House in November 2012, calling on President Barack Obama to fulfill his promise of passing comprehensive immigration reform. (Cliff Owen/AP) — Diana Saravia, 10, of Beltsville, Md., left, demonstrates, along with members of immigration rights organizations, in front of the White House in November 2012. The demonstrators called on President Obama to fulfill his promise of passing comprehensive immigration reform. (Cliff Owen/AP)

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama will be in Las Vegas to announce his ideas for immigration reform - something the president has called one of his top priorities.

On Monday, a bipartisan Senate group beat the president to the punch, announcing a broad agreement to overhaul Federal Immigration law.

Read the "Bipartisan Framework for Immigration Reform" report

Under the deal, undocumented immigrants who have no criminal records would be able to apply for legal residency after paying a fine and back taxes.

The measure would open a path to full U.S. citizenship for the nation's estimated 11 million undocumented workers.

But the agreement requires the federal government to first take strong steps to prevent a future influx of illegal immigrants, including tighter work rules to force employers to hire only legal immigrants, and more agents and equipment to improve border policing.

The new attention to immigration reflects a strong feeling among some Republicans that the party must win more Hispanic voters. But the new proposals are likely to face tough opposition from some House Republicans.

Washington Post: Bipartisan group of senators to unveil framework for immigration overhaul

Guest:

Karen Tumulty, national political reporter for the Washington Post. She tweets @ktumulty.

This segment aired on January 28, 2013.

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