Leaders of the US Senate agreed to a deal on Thursday that would revive an immigration bill.

The agreement, brokered by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Harry Reid, stipulated who should represent the Senate to negotiate a compromise with the House on the bill.

The Senate bill, introduced earlier this year, included provisions that would provide million of illegal immigrants a chance to get legal status in the United States and work for citizenship after certain requirements were met.

The House, on the other hand, passed a bill late last year that called for building a security fence on the US-Mexico border and for making illegal immigration a felony. The House bill has caused strong opposition from the undocumented immigrants, estimated at over 11 million in the United States, and immigrants rights advocates.

The Senate would send 26 members, with 14 Republicans and 12 Democrats, to negotiate with the House, said Frist.

Seven Republicans and five Democrats would come from the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Frist would choose the remaining Republicans, with Reid choosing the remaining Democrats.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2006)