The bipartisan immigration bill cleared a minor hurdle on Thursday as the Senate voted down a Republican attempt to require strict security goals to be met before undocumented immigrants can apply for legal status. The bipartisan group behind the bill — the "Gang of Eight" — voted against the amendment, proposed by Sen. Chuck Grassley, who wanted the Department of Homeland Security to maintain control of the U.S.-Mexico border for six months before people in the country illegally are eligible for legal status. Legislators who support the Gang of Eight said the requirement was too harsh and would keep undocumented immigrants "in the shadows" unnecessarily. The measure was killed in a 57-43 vote.
