Senator will introduce immigration overhaul before election

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., on Wednesday announced he plans to introduce comprehensive immigration legislation in the coming weeks, a move apparently intended to satisfy and energize Latino voters before the midterm elections in which congressional Democrats are expected to sustain heavy losses.

The bill is expected to be introduced this month and will flesh out a blueprint for immigration reform that Senate Democratic leaders outlined this year. Exact details of the bill are still being worked out, but it will include language that would give an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country a way to earn citizenship, Menendez told a cheering crowd during an immigration conference on Wednesday.

The bill is also expected to include the AgJobs measure, which is intended to improve the agriculture industry's ability to hire temporary workers, as well as tough border security measures backed by Republicans, a congressional aide said.

But it appeared extremely unlikely that the bill would be brought to the Senate floor before the November elections, as Senate Democratic leaders have not given assurances on timing. In addition, Menendez is still shopping for co-sponsors, and the Senate will only be in session for part of October.

Menendez said he would be interested in trying to pass the bill during the lame-duck session.

The bill's introduction is part of a renewed push by Democrats and advocates who favor immigration reform. Their strategy includes an effort to attach the DREAM Act to the fiscal 2011 defense authorization bill when it is brought to the Senate floor next week. The DREAM Act would allow young adults who were brought to the country illegally as minors to attain citizenship if they graduate high school and enter college or the military for at least two years.

"Months ago, pundits in D.C. wrote us off and left our movement for dead," said Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change during Wednesday's conference. "We have a message for them today: We are back."

Menendez and Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said they have received an assurance from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that no immigration-related amendments will be allowed to change the DREAM Act on the Senate floor next week -- a decision that is likely to anger Republicans.

Menendez said he believes there are 59 votes in the Senate to add the DREAM Act to the defense bill. Therefore, he said, Republicans have the power to prevent it from being added to the bill.

Gutierrez also called on President Obama to back a comprehensive immigration bill. He said that he, Menendez and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., plan to meet with Obama on Thursday to press their case.