Senate fails to act on immigration bill

ATLANTA - The Senate worked late into the night on a long list of bills but will not take action on a measure that cracks down on illegal immigration and contains some provisions similar to a tough Arizona law.

The House on Tuesday passed a toughened version of the bill authored by Rep. Matt Ramsey. The Senate has it but didn't take it up late Tuesday.

Thursday is the next and final day of the legislative session.

The bill contains provisions that would authorize law enforcement officers to verify the immigration status of certain criminal suspects and would penalize people who ``knowingly and willingly'' transport or harbor illegal immigrants.

It also would require employers with 10 or more workers to use a federal database called E-Verify to check the immigration status of new hires.