/ Modified apr 15, 2013 1:29 p.m.

Immigration Bill Due Tuesday AM

Senate's 'Gang of 8' set to unveil comprehensive reform plan

A bipartisan proposal to reform immigration law in the United States is scheduled to be revealed Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C.

The Associated Press reported Monday that immigration activists were being invited to an 11 a.m. EDT meeting at of the Senate's office buildings in Washington. That is 8 a.m. Arizona time.

The plan is expected to include provisions to secure the border and measure how security efforts are going, revamp work visa programs, increase enforcement of illegal hiring and provide a path to legalization and eventually citizenship for 11 million people in the country illegally.

The Senate's "Gang of Eight" - four Republicans and four Democrats, including Arizona GOP Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake - have been working on the plan since January.

The legislative proposal is expected to be a compromise between the Republicans insisting on better border security and enforcement and the Democrats insisting on opening the way to legalization and citizenship for those who came to the country illegally.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., one of the bipartisan group's members, said over the weekend that the legalization could not be characterized as "amnesty," because it would provide strict penalties for those seeking it, including payment of penalties, back taxes and starting at the back of the line for visas and citizenship after a lengthy waiting period.

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