May 21, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senators in a bipartisan group crafting a comprehensive immigration bill say they're not sure if they can meet a self-imposed March deadline but they're optimistic about a deal soon.
The lawmakers in the "Gang of Eight" have been meeting several times a week to write sweeping legislation that would strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border, improve legal immigration, crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants and provide an eventual pathway to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S.
When they unveiled legislative principles in January, the senators announced they hoped to release a bill sometime in March. Now, several senators -- including John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio -- say they're not sure if they'll meet the goal. Rubio says it's more important to do it right than fast.
