WASHINGTON (voa) – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill tht would allow many illegal immigrants to stay in the country while they apply for residency.
The House approved the measure Tuesday night 275 to 137 along with an attached border security bill that allows the Immigration and Naturalization Service to hire more agents.
President Bush issued a statement saying he applauds the House for its bipartisanship in strengthening border security and keeping families together. He urged the Senate to also quickly pass the bill when it comes up for debate there.
The legislation would extend through November a temporary measure that expired last year.
It would allow hundreds of thousands of immigrants stay in the United States while their applications for residency are being processed. They must be sponsored by an employer or a relative who is already a citizen or a permanent resident. Many of the affected immigrants have expired work visas.
Supporters of the measure say it would keep families together because immigrants will not have to leave the country while waiting for residency.
Opponents say it would reward those who came to the country illegally.
