Senate votes down GOP border amendment

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an early test of support for a comprehensive immigration bill, the Senate on Thursday voted down a Republican attempt to require the U.S.-Mexico border to be under control for six months before immigrants here illegally could take the first steps toward citizenship.

Supporters of the bill said the GOP amendment would have delayed for years the path to citizenship at the center of the legislation.The amendment’s author, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said it was needed to ensure the bill made good on its promises of ushering in true border security.