Highlights of Proposed Senate Immigration Bill

Highlights of the immigration and border security bill before the Senate:


Allows illegal immigrants in the country five years or more to remain, continue working and eventually become legal residents after paying fines, back taxes and learning English.

Requires illegal immigrants in the U.S. between two and five years to go to a point of entry at the border and file an application to return.

Requires those in the country less than two years to leave.

Creates a special guest worker program for an estimated 1.5 million immigrant farm workers, who could also earn legal permanent residency.

Provides up to 325,000 temporary visas a year for future workers, with additional visas possible based on labor market demands.

Adds up to 14,000 Border Patrol agents by 2011 to the current force of 11,300 agents, for a potential total of 25,300.

Authorizes additional detention facilities for apprehended illegal immigrants.

Requires employers and subcontractors to use an electronic system to verify new hires are legal within 18 months and increases penalties up to $20,000 per illegal worker and jail time for repeat offenders.