Tears, caution on news of U.S. immigration deal

By Tim Gaynor

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Some U.S.-based immigrants wept in relief at news of a deal between leading senators that would grant millions of undocumented immigrants lawful status, while other reform advocates warned any celebration was premature.

The agreement reached on Thursday sets the stage for what is expected to be a passionate Senate debate over the proposal, which would create a temporary worker program, set up a merit-based system for future immigrants and give legal status to 12 million illegal immigrants.

"I have been getting calls from migrants weeping with emotion. It's unbelievable the relief that they are feeling," said Elias Bermudez, the director of the Immigrants Without Borders activist group in Phoenix.

"What this news means to the millions of people in this country illegally ... is that they can leave their homes in the morning without fear of deportation," he added.

Hundreds of thousands of mostly Hispanic immigrants took to the streets on May 1 to call for an overhaul of immigration laws and an end to deportations by U.S. authorities.

Under the plan agreed to by Senate leaders, a new Z visa would be created for illegal immigrants who can prove they arrived in the United States before January 1, 2007.

It would also create a temporary worker program that would allow workers from Mexico and other countries to work for two years and then require them to go home before they could return. At least 400,000 visas a year could be issued.

The legislation also includes tougher border security and workplace enforcement measures and would limit family-based migration to immediate family members.