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Immigration reform bill: Top 8 changes GOP senators want

More than 300 amendments were submitted for possible inclusion in a sweeping immigration reform package – at least 100 of them from two Republicans, Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Jeff Sessions of Alabama. Here are eight notable changes GOP lawmakers want to see in bill, as the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up amendments between now and Memorial Day. 

5. A lot more guest workers

Lynne Sladky/AP/File
Celestino Galindo Dominguez of Veracruz, Mexico, works at a citrus farm in Arcadia, Fla., in 2007 as part of the US agriculture guest worker program.

  • By David Grant Staff writer

The number of low-skill guest workers allowed into the US would start out at 200,000 a year and rise to 400,000, per another amendment from Senator Lee.

By contrast, the original immigration reform bill calls for a steady buildup of visas for such workers, starting at 20,000 a year and gradually increasing to 200,000. 

Conservatives such as Lee are concerned that provisions for bringing new workers into the country aren't big enough for the needs of American businesses – but just how many more workers they believe the US needs was unclear until Lee's amendment.

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