If immigration reform passes Congress, the law will almost certainly have a way to allow those in the country illegally to eventually become citizens. But the bill, as it is written, contains a number of enforcement and border security benchmarks that must be met before the path to citizenship is opened for the 11 million or so illegal immigrants currently in the United States.

Two senior senators in the so-called Gang of 8 told reporters Thursday morning that Americans should not worry that the promised enforcement measures will not be implemented.