Senators’ bipartisan proposal detailed

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan agreement among a handful of senators to prevent deportation of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants includes a path to citizenship that would take as long as 12 years.

The Associated Press on Saturday obtained details of the deal that includes $1.6 billion for structures including a wall for border security.

The agreement between three Republican and three Democratic senators would prevent the deportation of hundreds of thousands of socalled Dreamers, who were brought to this country as children and are here illegally.

President Donald Trump and some GOP congressional leaders have said the bipartisan deal is insufficient. Its proponents — led by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. — say they continue to round up supporters in hopes of building momentum for their plan.

Political battle lines intensified after Trump's vulgar description of African nations and derogatory comments about Haiti at a White House meeting on Thursday, and the proposal's fate is uncertain.

A showdown was expected by Friday, the deadline for Congress approving a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown on Saturday. Some Democrats are threatening to withhold needed votes for the budget measure unless there's an immigration accord.

Details of the bipartisan Senate compromise:

Dreamers

Twelve-year path to citizenship. Can be reduced by up to two years for time in U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Obama-era initiative that Trump wants to terminate.

Once Dreamers become citizens, they would not be able to sponsor their parents to also become citizens. Parents would qualify for three-year work permits, which could be renewed repeatedly.