The proposed legislation will likely put illegal immigrants on a 13-year path to citizenship and would install new criteria for border security, allow more high- and low-skilled workers to come to the U.S. and hold businesses to tougher standards on verifying their workers are in the country legally.

WSJ: McCain, other US senators to tour Mexico border

The cell's first chief, Jacques Foccart, who earned a nickname as "Mr. Africa, " used French soldiers on the continent to install leaders he deemed friendly to French interests, given French companies a path toward winning deals for oil and other natural resources.

WSJ: Mali Advance Shows Paris's Africa Dilemma