From a Hill watcher:

Today is an important day.
Dems filed cloture last night, that means we vote on Thursday. If they get to 60 votes, which I’m not sure they have (growing dissent among dems; 5-8 may not support this bill), we’ll have 30 hours of post-cloture debate. That means we could vote on final passage on the Kennedy bill Friday night or Saturday. The dems are blocking any amendments that would strengthen the bill (including the one by Kyl/Cornyn that would prevent felons from getting amnesty or green cards). This bill is a dog, and unless we make it better, it will be amnesty, and it will even allow people who have been “self employed” for an undetermined period of time be eligible for amnesty. The dems know that if we have votes on amendments, we will make this bill stronger and they will start losing dem votes. Right now, they’re in a win-win: they either get this amnesty bill, or they force the Republicans to vote against it and blame the GOP for blocking immigration reform.
Oh, and this Hagel/Martinez compromise is going to get another shot this morning at a members meeting. I haven’t seen the final text they worked out late yesterday, but basically it says that some people here illegally now (those here longer than five years, I believe) can stay and get amnesty. Those here less than five years would have to the border and come back on a “temporary” permit. Some think this would get several GOP votes. But two problems: Kennedy hates the idea, and it’s still amnesty to 7-8 million people.
This morning’s meeting is very important. There will be an effort to gather GOP support. It’s a bad idea.