Sen. Hatch: 'I'm Counting' on House to Pass Immigration Reform

Immigration legislation is not dead, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

"I do think our House members are going to take this as a very serious challenge," Hatch said. "And, frankly, I'm counting on them."

The Senate's comprehensive immigration bill passed in late June isn't perfect, Hatch said. "There are a lot of things that need to be perfected."

The House is working on separate bills that deal with various aspects of immigration, but Hatch said he believes a conference committee can craft a final bill "that will solve this festering sore that exists in our country today."

Eleven million people are living in the United States illegally, and the Senate bill provides a "pathway to citizenship" for those wanting it.

"Most of them are pretty good people," Hatch said, "and they'd like to be Americans, or, at least they'd like a job here."