The Senate Has Cleared A Major Hurdle On A Key Immigration Reform Compromise

Fifteen Republicans joined every present Democrat in voting to move the immigration reform bill forward in the Senate on Monday, as the Senate passed a measure that ends debate on a border security compromise amendment.

The vote on the amendment, which was introduced by Republican Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.), passed by a 67-27 vote.

The 15 Republicans voted with 52 Democrats in voting to end debate on the amendment and move the bill forward. No Democrat present voted "no" on the measure. Several senators were unable to vote because of reported travel delays.

The vote came despite complaints from conservative senators that the Senate was moving forward too hastily on a 119-page amendment that was just formally introduced on Friday.

The amendment would double the presence of border patrol agents from 20,000 to 40,000. It would also add 700 miles of border fencing and provide a compromise on the E-Verify system, an online tool that checks workers' immigration status. Under the amendment, all employers would have to use E-Verify.

A Senate aide said that a vote on the final immigration bill could come as early as Thursday.