Immigration Barriers

Senate Builds Hope But Backs Border Fence, Fueling Emotional Debate

(CBS/AP)  The Senate built hope for immigrants, but also backed the building of a massive border fence along the southern United States Wednesday in increasingly emotional debate over election year immigration legislation.

While endorsing a chance at citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants, Congress also voted to build 370 miles of triple-layered fencing along the Mexican border. Taken together, the votes gave fresh momentum to legislation that closely follows President Bush's call for a major overhaul of the nation's troubled immigration system.

The vote was 66-33 against a proposal that would have removed provisions giving an eventual chance at citizenship to illegal immigrants who have been in the country more than two years.

A few minutes earlier, the Senate had voted 83-16 in favor of construction of the fence and 500 miles of vehicle barriers, the first significant victory in two days for conservatives seeking to place their stamp on the measure.

The developments unfolded in a volatile political environment. The White House struggled for a second day to ease the concerns of House Republicans who contend that President Bush favors amnesty for illegal immigrants, and demonstrators massed a few blocks from the Capitol demanding immigrant rights.

CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports immigration activists didn't stop at the foot of the U.S. Capitol Building Wednesday — they walked right through the doors and into the offices of members of Congress.

Members of the "We Are America" coalition, who hope to use the demonstrations as the foundation of a political movement, won an on-the-spot audience with Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., who told Attkisson: "I think it could change minds because it puts a human face on it."

Construction of the barrier would send "a signal that open-border days are over," said Sen. Jeff Sessions. "Good fences make good neighbors, fences don't make bad neighbors."

The Alabama Republican adds that border areas where barriers already exist have experienced economic improvement and reduced crime.

"What we have here has become a symbol for the right wing in American politics," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., arguing against the fence.

The Senate labored to complete by next week immigration legislation that generally follows an outline President Bush set out in a nationally televised speech on Monday.

The measure includes provisions to strengthen border security, create a new guest worker program and crack down on the hiring of illegal immigrants.

Most controversially, it offers an eventual chance at citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants already in the country. Senate Republicans staged an impromptu, occasionally emotional debate over whether that amounted to amnesty.

Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana said it did. "Surely this is a pardon from what present law says must happen," he said of provisions in the bill that require immigrants to undergo background checks, pay back taxes and take other steps before they can become citizens.

Sens. John McCain and Chuck Hagel replied heatedly it was not amnesty.

"Let's stop the nonsense," said Hagel, addressing fellow Republicans. "You all know it's not amnesty." Said McCain, addressing Vitter, "Call it a banana if you want to... to call the process that we require under this legislation amnesty - frankly distorts the debate and it's an unfair interpretation of it."

Vitter sought the last word. "Methinks thou dost protest too much."