Immigration bill careens toward vote

In a series of votes steadily interrupted by Republicans intent on stalling the proceedings, lawmakers rejected amendments aimed at gutting two key features of the bill: one that would allow illegal immigrants to seek legal status and another that would shift the basis for future immigration away from the current emphasis on family ties.

But the most ambitious attempt to overhaul immigration laws in two decades suffered a major setback late Wednesday when lawmakers approved an amendment that the bill's backers and the administration said would undermine its effectiveness. The measure targeted the bill's work-site enforcement section, removing all provisions that required so-called "Real ID" driver's licenses -- tamper-proof, secure identification that does not yet exist, but that the bill's backers consider essential to cracking down on illegal hiring.

Repeated objections from the bill's Republican opponents meant that the Senate could not consider other amendments to toughen enforcement against illegal immigrants. The bill's backers had hoped those amendments would bolster Republican support.

Without that incentive, the bipartisan team behind the bill will have to persuade their skeptical colleagues to support the legislation in exchange for promises that enforcement measures can be added later. It was unclear whether members of the team would be able to round up the 60 votes needed to close the debate today and move to a final tally.

"I'm feeling challenged," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a member of the bipartisan group. "We don't know if we have 60 votes. We're going to do our best."

As the Senate wound down Wednesday night, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the bill's central Democratic architect, struck a somber note as he urged members to "exercise best judgment" on today's "important and decisive vote," and reminded them that they could keep working on the bill.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a staunch opponent of the bill, insisted there was an erosion of support and asked his colleagues to "end this thing tomorrow." Sessions said it "can't be fixed in its present form."