If they do, some businesses fear a labor crisis, says Laura Reiff, cochair of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, whose members depend on low-skilled labor.

FORBES: Who's Gonna Do the Work?

Second, the bracero program, a temporary annual guest worker permit for low skilled Mexican farm workers, was discontinued on the eve of the Immigration Act of 1965 due to labor union pressure.

FORBES: The Rise of Asian Immigration

While I am encouraged that Congress is contemplating an increase to the skilled worker visa numbers, it concerns me greatly that this may be at the expense of cutting family-based immigration categories.

WHITEHOUSE: I Feel a Change Comin�� On

The low-skilled worker issue had loomed for weeks as perhaps the toughest matter to settle in monthslong closed-door talks on immigration among the senators, including Republicans John McCain of Arizona and Marco Rubio of Florida.

WSJ: Business, labor close on deal for immigration bill