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Weeks of protest rallies and prayers may finally be paying off for immigrants and their supporters. Reports of a compromise on immigration reform legislation are beginning to emerge from the state senate. As Whitney Ray tells us, support among GOP lawmakers is still strong, but opponents say they’re gaining ground.

As lawmakers debated immigration reform legislation in a House committee Thursday. Hispanic members of the audience dropped to their knees and began to pray.

The legislation passed the committee, just two votes shy of being defeated.

Afterward the opponents rallied, and thanked God for the close vote.

“Basically what we saw was the power of God. A lot of people were praying,” said Juan Pablo Chavez, an organizer

While the group’s efforts may have only secured moral victories in the House… in the Senate they may produce a compromise.

Wednesday, as state senators prepared to take up the legislation that would pave the way for local law enforcement officers to act as immigration agents.

A crowd of more than a 100 began to pray outside the committee room.

Erika Escamilla, a naturalized citizen living in Clearwater, is afraid the bill would lead to police harassment for people with Hispanic features.

“It’s going to be very difficult with our skin color to even go out on the street,” said Escamilla.

Senate debate on the bill was postponed, twice. The House Sponsor says a deal maybe in the works.

“It doesn’t appear to me that they have arrived yet at language they can pass,” said Representative William Snyder.

The Legislation won’t come up again until after Easter. By then it may be watered down, when the question will be whether campaign promises are more powerful than protestors.

Backing the Immigrates are several business groups including the Florida Chamber of Commerce. They fear the legislation would keep tourist from South American counties from visiting Florida.