WASHINGTON (January 28, 2013)--A bipartisan group of senators has reached agreement on the principles of sweeping legislation to rewrite the nation's immigration laws.

The deal, which was being announced Monday, covers border security, guest workers and employer verification, as well as a path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S.

With President Barack Obama also backing comprehensive immigration reform, the deal marks the start of what could be the most promising negotiations in years toward overhauling the nation's inefficient patchwork of immigration laws.

The principles were endorsed by eight senators including Democrats Charles Schumer, Dick Durbin and Robert Menendez, and Republicans John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio.