US Senate rejects bid to allow 12 million illegal immigrants to stay

THE US Senate yesterday rejected a California Democrat’s plan to allow the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country to remain, work and eventually become Americans, preserving a fragile bipartisan coalition needed to pass the bill.

Several lawmakers who voted against the proposal by Senator Dianne Feinstein said they did so reluctantly, but out of necessity to ensure survival of the broader immigration bill.

The legislation is expected to win Senate passage today or tomorrow.