US Senate passes sweeping immigration bill

WASHINGTON - The US Senate has passed an immigration bill that would give millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become American citizens.

The bill couples border security and enforcement with a guest worker programme 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 of Representatives 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