1. Preferential treatment to lawbreakers: Aliens who broke into the country illegally a mere seven months ago are treated better than foreign nationals who legally applied to come to the United States more than two years ago.

2. Amnesty for dangerous criminals: Some felons — including those who have sexually abused a minor — are eligible for amnesty, as are illegal aliens with terrorism connections and members of violent gangs, such as MS13.

3. Amnesty for aliens who have had their day in court: Those subject to final orders of removal, made a false claim to citizenship or engaged in document fraud are eligible for amnesty.

4. Taxpayer-funded legal help: Many aliens who have been working here illegally will receive free legal counsel — all at the taxpayer expense.

5. No preference for highly skilled workers: Under the proposed point system, high school dropouts working in fast-food restaurants who have the recommendation of their employer outscore applicants with Ph.D.s trying to enter the country from abroad.

These and the many other problems can be overcome. Thursday's vote should not mean the end of immigration reform. There's broad support for securing our borders and increasing enforcement of current law. Let's pass that immediately. Then we can continue our work on a guest-worker program and finding a fair, compassionate and lawful way to deal with the illegal immigrants already in our country.

Immigration is a celebrated part of our nation's past, present and future. But this bill was a dreadful way to honor that past, and a terrible plan for the future.

The American people deserve better.

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Republican Sen. Orrin G. Hatch has served in the U.S. Senate since 1977.