In the art of compromise, neither side gets 100 percent of its wish list granted. But in the end, the accord creates an overall better situation than what existed before. This is what the Senate must keep in mind today as it begins debating a landmark immigration compromise.

The agreement reached last week puts us on the path to overhauling a failing immigration process that for decades has forced millions into the shadows and pulled apart far too many hardworking families.

It's a good start and — with some key adjustments — it should be passed.

Some of the basics are rightly addressed. The plan would add 6,000 border patrol agents to deal with the country's porous borders, provide a streamlined electronic verification process for employers to verify its new hires and hold them accountable for violating the law.

It also would attempt to clear a staggering backlog of roughly 5 million applicants seeking to reunite with families, many of who have waited more than 20 years.

The compromise bill offers probationary legal status for illegal immigrants in the country prior to Jan. 1, 2007, provided they pass criminal background checks and meet other requirements, including paying fines and fees. They could eventually become citizens in a painfully lengthy process estimated to take 12 years.

Applicants for these "Z visas" would face sizeable hurdles, including the requirement that heads of households must return to their home countries and reenter legally. They also would have to pay steep fines and fees: Applicants are subject to a $1,000 fine and a $1,500 processing fee. Renewals would cost another $500 and those seeking green cards would have to pay an additional $4,000 in fines.

The Senate this week has the chance to make some key improvements. For example, the fees are much too steep, particularly for those working in excruciatingly low-paying jobs. Sending heads of households back to their countries amounts to a disincentive to seeking the legal path to citizenship. And the focus on family reunification has been supplanted by a meritocracy platform; there should be a better balance in that regard.

Congress has the opportunity to move us forward through sensible compromise. Let's hope the make the most of it.