U S Senate passes sweeping immigration overhaul

WASHINGTON, May 26 (Reuters) The U S Senate easily passed an immigration overhaul that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens, as supporters braced for a bruising battle with the House of Representatives.

The Senate voted 62-36 for the bipartisan bill that couples border security and enforcement with a guest worker program that would put most of the 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to U S citizenship.

It is the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades and Senate legislation has to be merged with a vastly different House bill that calls for tough border security and enforcement measures.

President George W Bush has said he supports a comprehensive approach to immigration reform along the lines passed by the Senate, but lawmakers acknowledged they still had more work to do.

''This product isn't perfect,'' said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican. ''Much more refinement needs to be done.'' Many lawmakers say Bush will have to become deeply involved in the bargaining for a final bill to be agreed upon before the November congressional elections when Democrats hope to make big gains. Recent polls show growing public dissatisfaction with the Republican majority.

The House bill became the focus of massive protests this spring across the country by mainly Hispanic immigrants seeking the right to remain and work in the United States.

Bush is mindful of the growing clout of Hispanic voters and has long pushed for immigration reform and a guest worker program. But the issue divides Republicans and some Senate opponents said they would seek to rewrite the legislation during negotiations with the House.

They oppose provisions giving millions of illegal immigrants a chance to earn U S citizenship. They also oppose a provision that would eventually allow some temporary workers to seek permanent status and citizenship.

''I am hopeful the House will save us from this bill,'' said Sen. John Ensign, a Nevada Republican.

DIFFICULT BARGAINING AHEAD Supporters say they are optimistic.

''Some say the easy part of this debate is over, and now we face the hard part -- reconciling the Senate bill with the House bill,'' said Sen Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat who helped shepherd the bill through the Senate. ''We'll do our best and I'm optimistic we can resolve our differences.'' MORE REUTERS DH RN0548