Hours before a decisive meeting on immigration legislation, senators today painted a dim view of the chances for a deal, saying more than two dozens issues remain unresolved.

“We are still not there,” said Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, the top Democratic negotiator. “Tomorrow is D-Day.”

That is when Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he will call a vote to limit debate on a motion to proceed to a replica of last year’s Senate-passed immigration bill. Republicans have said that legislation is not an option this year, and they likely would vote against cloture unless it is clear that measure is only a placeholder.

Some senators expressed hope they can bridge the distance on those issues at this afternoon’s meeting, but many indicated it is unrealistic to think they can meet tomorrow’s deadline.

In fact, Minority Whip Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Democrats have retreated from previous agreements on issues such as a “trigger concept” that would hold off on a temporary worker program and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the United States until benchmarks for border security and enforcement are met.