House Democrats passed a few bills on Thursday that would create a path to citizenship for Dreamers and some migrant farm workers, taking a fragmented approach as the fate of President Biden
Joe Biden The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Facebook – Forget Comity In Congress Boundary Rise Breaks Senate Immigration Debate GOP Looks At Measures Preventing Trans Athletes From Rallying Voters MOREThe main immigration package looks increasingly uncertain.
The Dream and Promise Act, passed 228-197, would provide security to undocumented migrants brought to the US as children whose ability to go to school, find work, and even stay in the country is in balance has stuck from administration to administration.
Sponsor representative Lucille Roybal-Allard
Lucille Roybal-Allard Lawmakers Call for Action on First Anniversary of Breonna Taylor’s Death House Approves Cyber Funds in Aid Package as Officials Push for More House Democrats to Propose Bill That Gives Dreamers Citizenship MORE (D-Calif.) Called the bill “an important step in ending the veil of fear and uncertainty that has plagued the lives of our dreamers for far too long.”
But in addition to helping Dreamers, the legislation would also allow those with temporary protected status (TPS) to apply for citizenship, a group from countries around the world that ranges from those fleeing civil unrest and natural disasters as early as the 1990s to Venezuelans eligible for Biden government status earlier this month.
In total, the Dream and Promise Act would help naturalize nearly 4.5 million people.
If passed by the Senate, the legislation would complete a long-standing goal for Democrats eager to bolster the status of Dreamers as former President Obama’s 2012 Delayed Children Arrivals Action Program (DACA) has repeatedly taken to court has been challenged.
But the prospects of getting the “immigration week” legislation to Biden’s office were complicated by a wave on the southern border, with Republicans reluctant to push through immigration reform before dealing with that situation first.
“Biden has lost control of the US-Mexico border,” Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham Boundary Rise Breaks Senate Immigration Debate Boundary Rise Puts Democratic Pressure on Immigration Reform on Shaky Ground House Republicans Offer Refutation to Biden’s Immigration Plan MORE (RS.C.) said Wednesday.
“Until he regains control, by implementing policies that work, it will be difficult to do the Dreamers or anything else.”
Meanwhile, a Republican immigration package was introduced on Wednesday, which would also provide Dreamers citizenship, a trigger mechanism to “ensure border security is complete before other reforms take place.”
During the House debate on the bill, Republicans often referred to a “crisis on our southern border,” arguing that the Biden administration is encouraging an increase in migration.
“We are outside the debate. The question is whether we have any limit at all. What is the response from the Democrats? This bill promises a path to citizenship to DACA recipients, but millions more, ”Rep. Tom McClintock
Thomas (Tom) Milller McClintock Overnight: Pentagon chief urges Manchin’s support for Colin Kahl | House Dems Trying to Restrict Transfer of Military-Grade Equipment to Police Democrats Introduce Bill to Restrict Transfer of Military-Grade Equipment to Police Republicans Call for Hearing on Biden’s Handling of Border Blast MORE (R-Calif.) Said.
“We all sympathize with those who were illegally brought here as young children years ago,” he said, noting Republican support for other bills that protected Dreamers, but contained border security measures that “discourage a new generation of young people from being brought here. . “
Arrests at the southern border jumped 28 percent between January and February to more than 100,000 people, according to the US Border Patrol, and the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday that the US is “on track to meet more people at the Southwest border than it is.” we have done over the past 20 years. “
While the White House has blamed the pressure on the border on the former President Trump
Donald Trump Boundary Rise Scrambles Senate Immigration Debate GOP Looks At Measures Preventing Trans Athletes From Rallying Voters House GOP Holdouts Confuse Trump Vaccine Message MORERepublicans have repeatedly claimed that the Biden government is undermining a stable situation.
“How did we get from America to America in just days,” Rep. Jodey Arrington
Jodey Cook Arrington NRCC Financial Chairman: Republicans Who Voted Trump’s Impeachment Won’t Be Punished House GOP Campaign Weapon Rolls New K Street Leadership Team Through Virtual Opening Week MORE (R-Texas) said during the debate.
Democrats said the case for Dreamers was based on compassion, economics and US immigration history.
They have so much to contribute, and they are American in every way except on paper. For so many long years they have suffered insecurity from the anti-immigrant hysteria fueled by these Republican fanatics, ”Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Lloyd Alton DoggettHouse Republican Takes In Hearing While Driving Home Panel Advances Part Of Aid Package That Includes 400 Checks Democrats Push For Revocation Of Tax Credits For Business Loss In Aid Package MORE (D-Texas) said on the floor.
“It would be so many benefits for all of us to release their full potential.”
Democrats also argue that the pandemic has shown the value that immigrants play as essential workers and as the engine of the economy.
“Recipients are essential to our communities. Many of them have lived in the United States for decades. They make up a significant portion of the workforce in key industries, including construction, food service and home care. They contribute to the US economy not only through their work, but also through consumer spending and tax revenues, and they have been particularly essential in serving our country during the COVID-19 pandemic, ”said House Judiciary Chair. Committee Jerry Nadler
Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerHouse Passes Bill to Renew Violence Against Women Act Democrats Move Smaller Immigration Bills While Watching Broad Overhaul This Week: Democrats See Next Step After Coronavirus Bill Wins MORE (DN.Y.) said during the debate.
“This legislation does not go across borders. This legislation is about finally delivering on our promise to America’s Dreamers and others who equally deserve our protection, ”said Nadler.
The House also passed legislation on Thursday that provides for a citizenship pathway for seasonal migrant farm workers, allowing those who have been traveling to the US for work for ten years to apply for citizenship after another four years.
That law, passed 247-174, is expected to grant citizenship to more than a million migrants, and it also increases the number of agricultural visas available for those who want to come to the US for work.
It received more Republican support, including varying voices from farming communities.
“For years my constituents have asked me to fix our country’s broken immigration system. They say it is wreaking havoc on our farmers in rural communities, ”said Rep. Mike Simpson
Michael (Mike) Keith Simpson Marjorie Taylor Greene’s delay tactic frustrates GOP In a time of uncertainty, the Great American Outdoors Act deserves our support Dentists want coronavirus testing kits before reopening MORE (R-Idaho), noting the difficulty of securing workers.
“We have drafted a bill to create a merit-based agricultural immigration system for our country’s food producers and implement much-needed reforms … This bill is not about what’s happening at the border,” Simpson said. “It’s about providing a stable, legal workforce to the people who put food on our tables.”
While the two bills together would allow a significant number of migrants to naturalize, this figure falls short of the 11 million figure that would be covered by a large immigration package pushed by Biden.
While the White House has issued statements of support for both bills, it has also pushed for Biden’s law to be passed, stressing the need to “reform other aspects of our immigration system.”
– Updated at 7:51 PM