By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – Immigrants' rights groups met at St. Louis City Hall Thursday to voice support for a Senate bill they say will give 11 million undocumented workers a path towards citizenship.
The bill increases the number of temporary and family visas and penalizes employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens.
Another measure before Congress proposes a 700-mile long fence along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Activist Joan Suarez with Jobs With Justice said that makes no sense.
"Now, you show me a 50-foot high fence, and I'll show you a 51-foot high ladder," Suarez said. Take a look at the Berlin Wall; take a look at the Great China Wall. Walls aren't about security; what's about security is sensible checks, sensible process."
The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to consider the immigration reform bill in about two weeks.