US immigration bill passes vote in Senate

A sweeping immigration reform bill cleared an important Senate test vote late Monday, 67-27, likely ensuring lawmakers will pass the unprecedented measure that offers a pathway to citizenship and expands US security along its borders. The vote on the bill is now expected to pass in Senate and the House later this week. This came as President Barack Obama met with top business leaders to discuss fixing the nation's immigration system, saying, "now is the time" to overhaul an immigration system that even critics of the legislation agree needs reform. President Obama also praised bipartisan efforts in the Senate that cleared the immigration reform measure. Senators voted to add 20,000 more Border Patrol agents to the southwestern border with Mexico and require a total of 700 miles of fencing within a decade. Senate passage Thursday or Friday would send the issue to the House, where conservative Republicans in the majority oppose citizenship for anyone living in the country illegally.