WASHINGTON (AP) -- Northwest senators were divided by party late Thursday as the Senate defeated a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Republican Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon and Larry Craig and Mike Crapo of Idaho voted against the bill in a test vote. Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington voted in favor.

Smith said he supported the concept of immigration reform, but added "the devil is in the details."

Senators said they expect the effort to be revived later this year. Wyden said the first thing an immigration bill must do is focus on border protection.

"After that make sure that laws on the books are enforced," Wyden said. "If employers knowingly hire illegals they ought to be punished."

Crapo said he was concerned about a provision for a temporary worker program, which he said could give an unfair advantage to people who entered the country illegally.

"I continue to believe a person should not gain an advantage or benefit toward citizenship or legal permanent resident status as a result of illegal entry into the United States," Crapo said. "This only encourages further illegal immigration."

Murray and other Democrats voted to bring the bill to a vote, but were thwarted by Republicans. The bill, which would legalize millions of unlawful immigrants, suffered two setbacks earlier Thursday, when it failed two other test votes.

The bill would tighten borders, institute a new system to prevent employers from hiring undocumented workers, and give many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants a pathway to legal status.

Earlier, Wyden joined nearly all Senate Republicans to support an amendment making English the national language of the United States. Wyden, Smith, Crapo and Craig all backed the amendment.

Murray and Cantwell voted no.

"As Americans and immigrants have known for more than two centuries, English is the national language," said Jennifer Hoelzer, a spokeswoman for Wyden. "This vote confirms that."

The amendment, sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., states that no one has "a right, entitlement or claim" for the federal government to communicate in any language other than English. It would not prevent ballots or other government forms from being printed in other languages, but states, "the English language version of the form is the sole authority for all legal purposes."

Cantwell called English the "common, unifying language in our country," but added: "our government needs to be able to communicate with people who speak little or no English during natural disasters and national emergencies. We're a nation of immigrants and many hardworking American citizens speak languages other than English and vote using bilingual ballots. We need to make a real investment in English as a Second Language classes and other similar initiatives to help immigrants learn English."

While concerned about specific elements of the bill, Smith praised President Bush and lawmakers from both parties for taking on the issue.

"It's an enormous piece of legislation, with a lot of moving parts and great complexity and great emotion," he said.