Immigration deal looms; wages and visa limits for guest workers are among remaining issues

The Gang of Eight, the octet of U.S. senators working on an immigration deal, could release their proposal as early as Thursday, though some are saying not to expect the deal until next week, Mike Allen reports for Politico. Senators are waiting for legislative language from the Senate Office of Legislative Counsel before releasing the bill.

Today, thousands of immigrants and their supporters are rallying outside the Capitol in anticipation of the deal, Alan Gomez reports for USA Today. "Immigration bills have been filed and killed repeatedly since the last major bill, allowing up to 3 million illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens, became law in 1986," he writes. "But organizers of Wednesday's rally say the political stars are finally aligned for another one."

We reported earlier this month that agriculture could be the biggest beneficiary of immigration reform. Farm lobbies are working with the presumption that "farmers want to hire a legal work force  . . . a pretty big change," Charles Conner, CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, told Agri-Pulse. He said a key remaining issue is minimum wages for immigrants or guest workers. The Washington newsletter also notes another key issue, limits on the number of guest-worker visas. Agri-Pulse is subscription-only, but offers a free trial here.