USA TODAY International Edition
Dems unveil Biden immigration bill
Proposal contains an 8- year path to citizenship
Lawmakers and White House officials unveiled sweeping immigration legislation Thursday, including a proposal for a path to citizenship for roughly 11 million migrants living without legal status in the USA.
“We’re here today because last November, 80 million Americans voted against Donald Trump and against everything he stood for. They voted to restore common sense, compassion and competence in our government, and part of that mandate is fixing our immigration system,” Sen. Bob Menendez, DN. J., said in a virtual news conference.
The plan is based on the comprehensive immigration legislation proposal President Joe Biden introduced on his first day in office.
The U. S. Citizenship Act of 2021 includes: an eight- year pathway to citizenship for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants; a shorter process to legal status for agriculture workers and recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program; and an enforcement plan that includes deploying technology to patrol the border.
The bill calls for $ 4 billion over four years “to confront corruption, enhance security and foster prosperity” in migrant communities.” It lays out a plan to create refugee processing in Central America to discourage migrants from traveling to the U. S.- Mexican border.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D- Calif., in the House and by Menendez in the Senate.
Legislation faces challenges
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, DCalif., didn’t offer specifics Thursday about the legislative strategy. Democrats are weighing whether to keep the policy proposals in one large legislative package or try to enact individual elements of it in a piecemeal approach.
“How it happens through the legisla
tive process remains to be seen,” Pelosi said. “But it is a priority, and we will be working on it.”
Some Republicans criticized the legislation for not including more to address border security.
“The left wants to fund this border security around the Capitol, but they don’t want to fund a border wall at our southern border,” Rep. Nancy Mace, RS. C., said on Fox News Thursday. “I don’t understand it at all.”
Other Republican lawmakers said it’s not the right time to introduce immigration legislation as the nation grapples with the COVID- 19 pandemic.
“No! This is not the right time and certainly not the right set of policies,” Rep. Bill Johnson, R- Ohio, wrote Thursday. “Let’s focus on those Americans who are struggling right now.”
Menendez said he has had conversations with Republican colleagues on the legislation and some have expressed interest in portions of the bill.
Menendez said Republicans from states with a large agriculture commu
nity expressed interest in parts of the legislation that would affect farmworkers. Republicans from states with a large technology industry are interested in portions of the bill that address visas.
“The question for them is, yes, you want that part, but what are you willing to join in order to get that, with other elements that are needed for some broader reform?” Menendez said. “So those are the conversations that are going on.”
What is in the legislation?
Although lawmakers are working to push through the comprehensive immigration package, they have discussed trying to pass other immigration legislation in tandem with Biden’s bill.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairman Raul Ruiz said last week that “we’re working very hard to secure a vote on these bills before April 1.” The Farm Workforce Modernization Act and the Dream and Promise Act, which both passed in the House in 2019, will be among the other bills introduced.
“We have the reform bill that we’re proud that Biden fulfilled his promise of having that bill on Day One,” Rep. Ruiz, D- Calif., said during a virtual town hall with UnidosUS. “The two other bills that will help us achieve a pathway to citizenship for millions of families are bills that passed last Congress with bipartisan support.”
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would create a pathway to legalization for agricultural or farmworkers, as well as change the visa program for agriculture workers, known as the H- 2A visa. The Dream and Promise Act would create a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, people who were brought to the country illegally as children and allowed to stay.
The new legislation outlines that the process for citizenship for undocumented immigrants would start with fiveyear temporary status, then they would be able to apply for a green card, which they would have for three years before being able to apply for citizenship. Only undocumented immigrants who were in the USA by Jan. 1, 2021, would be eligible for the legalization process.
DACA recipients, those with temporary protected status as of Jan. 1, 2017, and farmworkers would be able to directly apply for a green card.
In regards to security, the bill calls for enhancing technology infrastructure at the border for more robust screening at ports of entry to detect contraband and criminal activity.
The last time comprehensive, bipartisan immigration legislation was brought up in Congress was in 2013.
Sanchez, who is leading the bill through the House, said Thursday that there will be discussion with Republican colleagues to try to get them on board.
“We all know that when you introduce a bill, oftentimes, the end result is not exactly the starting result,” she said at the virtual news briefing. “So there will be opportunities for us to talk with our Republican colleagues and educate them about what is in the bill, address concerns and modify it, but we are confident that we can get this done.”