Senate approves far-reaching immigration bill

Here's the Washington Post story about the Senate's immigration bill, which basically reflects -- so far as I can tell -- the Bush / McCain / Kennedy approach to the matter.  It's probably tougher than the U.S. Catholic bishops would like, but much less tough than some in the "bases" of the two political parties would like. 

Frankly, my initial take is to say that this looks like a good proposal.  (Hats off to Sen. McCain for continuing to support it, even though this support will probably doom his chances at the GOP presidential nomination.)  It takes seriously a political community's right to protect itself and to control its physical borders, and it has elements designed to encourage assimilation and language-learning; it does not grant "amnesty"; at the same time, it is realistic about the impossibility  -- and, frankly, the cruelty -- of mass-deporting more than ten million people who contribute to our economy, our culture, and our community.  But, of course, people like Mike S., Amy Uelmen, and Mary Ann Glendon  know more than I do about this . . .