A round up of reaction on the immigration deal:

From Rudy Giuliani's campaign:

"Rudy's top priority and main objective is to ensure our borders are secure and to stop potential terrorists and criminals from coming in. The recent Fort Dix plot is a stark reminder that the threat of terrorism has made immigration an important matter of national security. We need to know who is coming in and who is going out of this country if we are going to deal with those who are here illegally."

Governor Mitt Romney:

"I strongly oppose today's bill going through the Senate. It is the wrong approach. Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new 'Z-Visa' does, is a form of amnesty. That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S.

"Today's Senate agreement falls short of the actions needed to both solve our country's illegal immigration problem and also strengthen our legal immigration system. Border security and a reliable employment verification system must be our first priority."

Senator John McCain:

A comprehensive plan for immigration reform is long overdue. I am proud to join this distinguished bipartisan group in announcing an historic overhaul of our immigration system. The legislation we announce today represents weeks, months -- and in some cases -- years of work and bipartisan negotiations. I'm proud of our work, our process, and our product.

First, we must establish that the infrastructure is in place to secure our borders and ensure that we have a functioning employment verification system. These triggers must be met before undocumented immigrants will qualify for legal status or new workers can enter the United States under a new, truly temporary, worker program.

The language set forth in this bipartisan agreement would secure U.S. borders; enhance interior enforcement; establish a plan to register millions of undocumented immigrants; provide a practical temporary guest worker program and put employers on notice that the practice of hiring illegal workers will no longer be tolerated. However, the guest worker provisions and the legalization program for the undocumented included in the bill would take effect only with the stipulation that specific enforcement and security triggers are met and certified by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Immigration reform is key to maintaining our nation's vibrant economy. Through the reforms we have agreed to, our country will finally have a system that emphasizes immigrants that contribute to the economic and cultural growth of our nation.

The American people are demanding a solution, and today we are offering one. This is a first step on a long road, but this is a textbook example of how the congressional process was designed to work.

Senator Jim DeMint:

"I hope we don't take a thousand page bill written in secret and try to ram it through the Senate in a few days. This is a very important issue for America and we need time to debate it."

"But the little we do know about the bill is troubling. According to reports, the bill contains a new 'Z Visa' that allows those who entered our country illegally to stay here permanently without ever returning home. This rewards people who broke the law with permanent legal status, and puts them ahead of millions of law-abiding immigrants waiting to come to America. I don't care how you try to spin it, this is amnesty."

Senator Ted Kennedy:

We must strike while the iron is hot - I've been around here long enough to know that opportunities like this don't come often: the American people are demanding a solution, the President is committed, Senator Reid has made this a priority, and Senators from both parties are now determined to solve this crisis.

Politics is the art of the possible and the agreement we just reached is the best possible chance we will have in years to secure our borders and bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America.

We all want to secure our borders and strengthen our national security. There is broad agreement on the doubling of border guards, securing our perimeter, increasing the number of inspectors, cracking down on smugglers and employers who break the law.

There is also broad consensus that the 12 million undocumented workers who are here should be offered the chance to earn their legalization - immediately. If this agreement becomes law it will provide a historic opportunity for millions of people right away.

On family immigration, as someone who comes from a large family I couldn't be more committed to upholding our policy of supporting families that want to stay together.

This proposal includes family backlog reduction in 8 years for most of the 4 million in the family backlog, a backlog that currently stretches some 22 years.

It also maintains that more than a majority of future immigration will be based on family ties. That couldn't be more important. Family reunification has been the cornerstone of our immigration policy for decades and under this proposal it still will be.

About 20 per cent will be given to the refugees who desperately need asylum in our country.

And the remaining third will be based on a point system that factors in preferences for both high skilled and low skilled workers, as well as extended family ties.

The agreement includes temporary workers that will have strong labor protections. This will help people who risk their lives crossing the border for a job will have the chance to apply for good jobs in the United States. And it helps strengthen the backbone of our economy.

This plan isn't perfect but it is a strong agreement and a good solution. Only a bipartisan agreement will become law and I believe we owe it to the American people to stop talking about immigration and start acting. We owe it to them to solve this crisis in a way that upholds our humanity and our tradition of a nation of immigrants.

Senator Mel Martinez:

We are a nation of laws and also a nation of immigrants. But the fact of the matter is that our current immigration system has failed. This bipartisan and comprehensive reform package addresses our country's immigration policy and goes beyond to focus on our nation's economy and security.

This bill has a great deal of balance in it because it enforces our borders first and foremost while ensuring America has the labor force our economy desperately needs.

This consensus bill will make America stronger, give some charity to people that are here while at the same time giving Americans the assurances that our borders are going to be secured. It isn't perfect. It's the best solution that we could find today, working together in good faith in a bipartisan way.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

Today I join my colleagues of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to reiterate House Democrats' commitment to comprehensive immigration reform. The time to pass comprehensive immigration reform is now.

That means we must secure our borders and enforce our laws, while also protecting against discrimination and adhering to the rule of law. It means that we must regularize the status of the 12 million undocumented immigrants who now work and live here, and establish a rigorous but real path to citizenship. It means we must promote family values and family unification. And it means that we must meet our economy's need for additional workers when there is evidence that they are needed, and there are strict labor protections for all workers.

As the Senate begins its work, they must pass a strong bill that honors these principles that we all agree on, and upholds the American immigrant tradition. While the bipartisan Senate agreement starts the process, I have serious concerns about some elements of this proposal -- the bill must be improved in the Senate. We look forward to working with the Senate on passing a strong comprehensive bill.

We have an obligation to the American people to pass strong bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform. The need is urgent. And the time is now.

Rep. Tom Tancredo:

Senator McCain and his allies seem to think that they can dupe the American public into accepting a blanket amnesty if they just call it 'comprehensive' or 'earned legalization' or 'regularization.' Unfortunately for them, however, the American people know amnesty when they see it. The President is so desperate for a legacy and a domestic policy win that he is willing to sell out the American people and our national security.

If Senator McCain and Senator Kennedy spent as much time working on improving border security as they did poll testing creative euphemisms for amnesty, America would be a much safer place.

Senator Bill Frist:

Building a fence along our southwest border is a key component in strengthening our security while providing meaningful improvement to our nation's immigration system.[snip]

Senate Republicans should stand strong in favor of building the full 700 miles of fencing, strengthening our border and stemming the tide of illegal immigration.

Improving our nation's security cannot take a back seat to public posturing during these serious times.