A bipartisan group of senators has proposed sweeping changes to the nation’s immigration laws. The Senate bill calls for increased security on the U.S.-Mexican border, the hiring of 18,000 more border agents and new requirements for employers to check the immigration status of employees. The bill would also allow undocumented immigrants living in the United States to continue to work here if they fulfill a number of requirements including paying a $5,000 fine and getting a biometric identification card. The bill would also set up a point system to determine who merits a new type of work visa. Details about the point system are still being negotiated, but the White House has suggested immigrants should be able to earn points by serving in the U.S. military. The Senate proposal would also allow up to 600,000 temporary workers to come to the United States each year. Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts spoke at a press conference Thursday announcing the bill.

Sen. Edward Kennedy: “This plan isn’t perfect, but it’s a strong bill. And it is a worthy solution. Only a bipartisan bill will become law, and I believe we owe it to the American people to stop talking about immigration and start acting. We all owe it to them to solve this crisis in a way that upholds our humanity and our tradition of a nation of immigrants.”

Several Republicans — including President Bush — voiced support for the deal.