A far-reaching immigration bill is getting its first test at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where opponents of the legislation will be able to face off with its authors.
The committee includes New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer and three other lawmakers who authored the bill to boost border security, fix legal immigration programs and eventually grant citizenship to some 11 million people in the U.S. illegally. The panel also includes skeptics of the legislation, including Republican Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
The legislation was introduced around 2 a.m. Wednesday, so critics say there's been insufficient time to digest it and they have pushed for more hearings and a long process.
Friday's hearing is the first of two the Judiciary Committee is expected to hold on the bill.