Republicans divided on new immigration bill

A new immigration Bill 'almost certainly' faces opposition from Republicans in the United States Senate who say that allowing citizenship to illegal aliens would be another form of amnesty that will only increase illegal immigration, a report said on Friday.

The Bill, cosponsored by Senators John McCain (Republican) and Edward Kennedy (Democrat), 'almost certainly faces a fight from Republicans who recently rejected amnesty proposals and this week helped win passage of the Real ID Act, which makes it more difficult for illegal immigrants to obtain federally recognized identification', the Washington Post said.

Under the Bill, millions of legal and illegal workers could eventually gain US citizenship.

Illegal workers in the US would pay US$1,000 each to apply for H-5B visas that would require them to work for six years before seeking permanent residency (Green Card), the gateway to citizenship.

McCain said that he asked the Bush administration to embrace the proposal.

He did not get a firm answer, but was told the Bill is, 'in accord with the president's principles'.

But Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo, a leading proponent of expelling illegal immigrants, said the Bill is another form of amnesty.

"There might be a little more lipstick on this pig than there was before, but it most certainly is the same old pig," said Tancredo.

"Time and again, history has shown us that amnesty actually increases illegal immigration," he added.