Business and labor groups reached an agreement on new guest-worker provisions on Friday, the last major hurdle to immigration reform. The deal includes a new visa for lower-skilled non-agricultural workers, and workers would be able to seek permanent status after one year. The overall bill will include a way for current undocumented immigrants to become citizens, increase border security and help businesses find the workers that they need. Legislators say that there will be no final agreement until the bill is completely written, but that they do not expect any major problems.
See "Senate group resolves key issues on immigration reform: lawmakers", Thomas Ferraro and Steve Holland, Reuters, March 31, 2013