WASHINGTON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to exclude illegal immigrants convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors from a chance at remaining in the country under a proposed immigration bill.

    The unanimous vote on an amendment provided new momentum for the broad immigration bill that will give legal status to the estimated 12 millions illegal immigrants in the country and put many of them on a path toward citizenship.

    Congressional critics of the legislation, mainly conservative Republicans, said they are not giving up and planned to keep trying to reshape the bill.

    Meanwhile, immigration advocates poured into Washington by the thousands to lobby lawmakers and hold a late afternoon rally within site of the Capitol and the White House.

    The Senate bill authorizes additional spending on border security, a guest worker program, an eventual opportunity at citizenship for most of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country, and tougher enforcement of laws prohibiting hiring of illegal workers.

    Backers of the bill on Tuesday defeated two amendments that would have gutted the Senate bill.

    U.S. President George W. Bush, who supports the bill in principal, gave the debate momentum on Monday by announcing the deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops to southwestern border states to support the Border Patrol.

    Senate passage of the bill appears likely by the end of the month.

    Opponents of the bill are planning other amendments but said the big fight will occur when negotiators try to merge the Senate bill with the House's version which will make all illegal immigrants criminals. Enditem