News > Senate Decision on Immigration Reform Bill Stalled

Senate Decision on Immigration Reform Bill Stalled

A proposed bill to overhaul the nation's immigration laws came to a halt today as senators failed to vote in favor of a swift decision. Key provisions of Senate bill S.1348 address the issues of status for undocumented workers in the U.S., border security, providing additional temporary work visa categories, and limiting family-based immigration, among others. Although the process for approving a bill in the Senate can be lengthy, it may be limited where a three-fifths majority of the senators vote to fast-track debate on a matter before the bill is put to a vote (called "cloture"). Without this type of agreement, a bill can languish indefinitely in debate in the Senate. Cloture is often employed to move forward bills which are "controversial" in nature.

On June 8, 2007, the Senate failed to obtain the required number of votes in favor of cloture. As a result, S.1348 was withdrawn from consideration by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, effectively postponing it indefinitely.

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