US Senate passes sweeping immigration bill

WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) The US Senate today passed an immigration overhaul that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens as backers braced for a bruising battle with the House of Representatives.

A majority of the 100-member Senate voted for the bill that couples border security and enforcement with a guest worker program and a plan that would put most of the 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to US citizenship.

It is the most sweeping immigration bill in two decades and has to be merged with a vastly different House bill that calls for tough border security and enforcement measures. It is unclear whether lawmakers can work out differences before the November congressional elections.

Reuters DH RN0340