MEXICO CITY, April 6 (Xinhua) -- The Mexican government on Thursday welcomed U.S. immigration legislation reform intended to help millions of illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States obtain legal status and seek citizenship.

    The U.S. Senate was reviewing a compromise proposal that would require illegal immigrants who have been in the United States for two to five years to return home briefly and re-enter as temporary workers.

    Illegal immigrants who have been in the United States more than five years would not be required to return home. Those in the country less than two years would be required to leave without any assurance of returning, and then join others seeking entry papers.

    Mexico's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday, calling the proposal "a big step forward."

    "It is an important step in the establishment of new mechanisms allowing legal, secure, orderly migration that respects human rights," the statement said.

    It added that it was evident that the U.S. government was "fully convinced that by sharing responsibility it is possible to achieve better management of the migration phenomenon." In the same statement, the ministry called for the approval of a final bill that is "complete, just and humane."

    Official figures found that around 10 million Mexican citizens live in the United States, while around half of them without legal documents. Enditem