WASHINGTON, DC In an effort to help older immigrants care for their grandchildren and contribute to their local communities, the United States Senate today approved an amendment that would exempt immigrants who are 65 years or older and seeking earned adjustment or deferred mandatory departure from certain mandatory work requirements. The amendment which was authored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), was accepted as part of the Immigrant Accountability Act of 2006.The Senate bill allows illegal immigrants to begin the path to citizenship if they can prove that they have worked for at least three out of five years and that they will continue to work for the next six years.Presently, the bill has no work exemptions for individuals over 20 years of age. In an effort to prevent the elderly from being forced to work into their late 70s and 80s, Reeds amendment sets the age limitation of this requirement at 65, and will apply to all those who are over 65 at the date of enactment.Many immigrants who come to the United States seeking a better life are too old to find work in a new country or work in low skilled labor for nine years. Though not in the workforce, these individuals are often raising grandchildren or mentoring members of their community, and thus make many important and positive contributions to society, Reed stated. Requiring older immigrants to work well past what would be considered retirement age is an unfair burden to place on these individuals and their families.Reeds amendment was accepted by unanimous consent.