The U.S. Senate late Monday used a procedural vote (69 to 23) to clear the way for debate on an immigration reform compromise that was announced by a group of senators from both major parties and the White House last week. Prospects for passage of the deal are unclear, as there are opponents on both sides of the political aisle.

The debate over a compromise immigration reform plan negotiated by President Bush and senators from both parties is expected to heat up this week, as the Senate takes up the issue Monday.

France's minister of immigration and national identity ruled out a mass normalization of illegal immigrants and said that policy would be dictated by firmness and pragmatism.

A group of U.S. senators from both major political parties has reached agreement with the White House on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. President Bush is urging lawmakers to approve the measure as soon as possible.

As the Immigration reform is in focus, the White House says that the Democrats and Republicans in Senta reach an immigration deal that would includes a Guest Worker program, allows the undocumented workers to get legal status in USA, but is not an amnesty.

President Bush is committed to comprehensive immigration reform that secures America's borders, improves enforcement of immigration laws, and upholds our values.

Interior ministers of the G-6 countries - France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain and Britain - are in Venice for a two-day summit. In their first meeting Friday, discussions focused on immigration and drug trafficking. Sabina Castelfranco reports for VOA from Venice.

The second night of violence took place in France, Leaving windows smashed and cars burned. Socialists call for calm.

U.S. Coast Guard officials say a boat carrying more than 100 Haitian migrants has capsized near the Turks and Caicos islands, killing at least 20 people. In Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports that Coast Guard officials are assisting in search and rescue operations.

Two days after thousands of people rallied in several American cities to call for change in U.S. immigration laws, President Bush again spoke out for what he calls comprehensive reform. Members of the president's own Republican Party in the House of Representatives scuttled his efforts last year. But Mr. Bush today spoke optimistically of chances for action this year.

A sailboat packed with up to 150 Haitian migrants capsized while it was being towed by a police vessel from the Turks and Caicos on Thursday, and the US Coast Guard said 20 people had died while another 58 are missing.

Thousands of people demonstrated across the United States on May day demanding immigration reforms so that more than 12 million illegal immigrants working in the country can achieve citizenship.