It's an issue the divides the United States and its political parties.

Monday the Senate begins debating the latest bi-partisian bill on immigration reform.

President Bush has praised the bill and is campaigning to push it through Congress.

Not everyone is sold.

Inside Don Gaby's in South Omaha the only thing that boils hotter than the “guiso” is talk of immigration reform.

Manuel Alferes was born in Mexico and is naturalized U.S. citizen.

He opened his own restaurant in Omaha more than a decade ago.

He says immigration reform is needed.

"It would be a good thing just for the security of our country,” says Manuel Alferes.

Alferes says we need stiffer border security.

At the same time he says we need to document those who are already here.

"We need to find a way to give some kind of permit."

Proponents of the new immigration bill say the bill answers those concerns.

Under the proposal, 12 million illegal immigrants now in the United States would be given a path to citizenship, part of it includes a trip back to their home country.

Border security would be increased and the requirements for new immigrants would change.

Senator Chuck Hagel says "I think this is a good first step."

While Senator Chuck Hagel sees promise in the bill, Senator Ben Nelson says border security needs to be addressed first.

"I think the primary objective needs to be to secure the boarder first," says Nelson.

Senator Nelson says all this talk about what he and many opponents of the bill say is amnesty only will increase the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border.

"I don't want to see more people coming across the border in anticipation of being able to get legal status when they get there," says Nelson.

"I don't think you can just take the border security issue and focus on that alone and say we are going to secure our borders. After we do that, we'll fix everything else," says Hagel.

It's this difference on Capitol Hill that has many in Omaha uncertain whether this compromise will work.

The senate is expected to begin debate on the immigration bill Monday.

As it stands Senator Hagel says he supports most of it.

Senator Nelson says unless it changes radically, he plans to vote against it.