Much like the rest of the country, Long Islanders' reaction to defeat of the Senate's immigration reform bill was mixed Friday.

The bill would have created a path toward legal residency for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants nationwide.

Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood), a supporter of the so-called amnesty portion of the bill, said he is disappointed by the missed opportunity.

"I'm saddened by the fact it wasn't resolved at this time," Ramos said. "There's a need to come up with immigration reform."

The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a group that picketed the home of Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley for trying to set up a day labor hiring site, was thrilled with the bill's defeat.

Meanwhile, both supporters and critics acknowledged problems with the bill's construction. Some worried about high application fees for immigrants and about the guest-worker program. Others thought undocumented workers would be afraid to apply for the Z visa because they'd have to leave the country while their papers were processed.

Herb McKay, of Montauk, wants the border to be less porous.

"Enforce the laws that are there already, and then let's talk about new laws."

Related Information: Illegal on Long Island