The Senate Moves On Immigration

Somewhat surprisingly, the US Senate has passed some "get tough" amendments to the immigration bill.  The first would add 370 miles of security fence to our southern border and the second  apparently requires employers to look for American workers before turning to non-citizens (this is my reading of the Amendment, which I cannot find on the Senate site and so I am relying on this summary from NRO).  The security fence amendment passed easily, with both South Dakota senators voting in favor.  Sen. Durbin of Illinois calls this a "victory for the right-wing," which now presumably includes John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, both of whom voted for the fence.  Call it the incredibly shrinking left.  On the employment matter, the amendment passed by a slim 50-48 margin, with Thune voting for and Johnson voting against.  It was not just your typical liberal Republicans who sided with the Democrats against this amendment.  Sure, there was Arlen Specter, but Sam Brownback of Kansas and Larry Craig of Idaho opposed this amendment.  These guys are not liberal Republicans.