The House of Representatives by a wide margin voted April 25 to split the Immigration and Naturalization Service into two separate agencies - one to handle immigration services, another for law enforcement.

The 405-9 vote came after Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the Bush administration's support for the bill, despite an earlier position calling on reform from within the agency.

However, Ashcroft called the House vote a first step and said he would change the bill as it makes its way to the Senate for consideration there.