There are about 11 million people in this country illegally. Most work hard. Most commit no crimes. They're not leaving, and American business doesn't want them to.

Recognition of those undeniable facts led the Senate Judiciary Committee this week to pass a rational, humane immigration bill. If its provisions become law — and several hurdles stand in its way — those immigrants who arrived here before January 2004 and have no criminal records would be allowed to stay. After waiting several years and paying fines, they would be on the path to citizenship.

This is mercy and wisdom. Several Republicans joined committee Democrats in voting for the plan, showing that practicality occasionally can trump ideology in Congress. Our society and economy will be stronger if it passes.

Illegal immigrants make up about 5 percent of the American workforce. Hotels, landscaping firms, janitorial services, meat-packing plants, restaurants and other low-wage employers all would be crippled if illegals were unavailable for work.

Right now, those 11 million people constitute an underclass in America: afraid to report crimes, vulnerable to exploitation, confined to low-wage jobs and often separated from spouses and children in other countries. The Judiciary Committee bill would pull them out of the shadows and include them in the American melting pot.

For more than two centuries, our country has prospered economically and culturally by forging immigrants into Americans, not by making the huddled masses cower more deeply in the shadows.

Realistically, the United States cannot accept everyone who wants to live here. Any successful approach to immigration must accomplish three goals: Accept those who are here, discourage new illegals from coming and expand legal immigration to meet the needs of the economy — and to live up to our own ideals.

All proposals under consideration include tightening border enforcement and increasing penalties on businesses that knowingly hire illegals. The Judiciary Committee bill, for example, doubles the number of border patrol agents and proposes a "virtual wall" of sensors along the border — both good ideas.

It also endorses a five-year plan to provide visas for about 1.5 million agriculture workers and 400,000 other low-skill immigrants, and it includes the possibility of citizenship. That should ease pressure on the border somewhat, but admitting too many people could drive down wages for low-skill American workers. Congress should consider the specific numbers very carefully.

The Senate committee wisely rejected the ultra-punitive approach taken by the House late last year. Under the House bill, pastors, soup kitchen operators and other kind-hearted souls would be branded as felons for aiding illegal immigrants. Judiciary Committee veteran Dick Durbin, D-Ill., got that piece of meanness tossed out of the Senate's bill.

The bill still faces tough going. Opponents are denouncing it as an amnesty program in everything but name, which it certainly is. And even if it passes the full Senate in its current version, there would be a bruising conference committee battle to resolve the significant differences with the House bill.

ut with the backing of much of the business community, organized labor and many religious and social-service organizations, this moderate and practical approach to immigration reform deserves to become law.