Immigration Compromise Reached by Senate Negotiators

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the Democrats' chief negotiator, acknowledged that the bill had to meet concerns from both ends of the political spectrum. --- "This plan isn't perfect, but it's a strong bill and it is a worthy solution," he said. "Only a bipartisan bill will become law, and I believe we owe it to the American people . . . to solve this crisis in a way that upholds our humanity and our tradition of a nation of immigrants." --- Under the deal, undocumented workers who crossed into the country before Jan. 1 would be offered a temporary-residency permit while they await a new "Z Visa" that would allow them to live and work lawfully here.