The deportees cross a bridge on the border of the United States and Mexico, from Texas to Mexico, on February 25, 2021 in Matamoros, Mexico.
John Moore | Getty Images
Immigration advocates and experts across the political spectrum do not expect the comprehensive immigration project supported by President Joe Biden to pass Congress as it stands – but the areas where its priorities align highlight the opportunities for a bipartisan compromise.
On February 18, Democrats introduced the 2021 United States Citizenship Act, which would establish an eight-year path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, expand the possibilities for legal immigration and reduce visa delays, among others. provisions.
Even after the introduction, the project’s sponsors recognized the possibility of an alternative, piece-by-piece approach to approving immigration reform.
“We are looking for a ‘all of the above’ strategy,” said Principal Sponsor, Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., At the news conference that revealed the bill. “All options are on the table and we hope to pass a robust immigration reform, but there are other major immigration bills that we will also accept and, hopefully, pass as well.”
Democrats hold a small majority in both chambers of Congress, and the legislation would require a minimum of 10 Republican votes to defeat a Senate obstructionist and take the bill to a final vote for approval.
This is unlikely to happen in this comprehensive bill. Republican lawmakers do not support the broad path to citizenship of 11 million undocumented immigrants in particular and demand greater border security measures.
“Nobody is saying that there is an easy way for this project to pass,” said Jacinta González, senior campaign organizer for the advocacy group Mijente, in a conference call with supporters on Tuesday. “We have to be really realistic and honest with our people about this.”
While advocates recognize that the comprehensive package is unlikely to pass, they see the bill as a starting point for the legislative movement on immigration reform.
“There are pieces of this bill that have significant support that, if taken separately, can actually be passed by law,” said Jorge Lima, senior vice president of politics for Americans for Prosperity, the conservative political advocacy group supported by the billionaire Charles Koch.
Set the path to citizenship for “Dreamers”
For two decades, lawmakers have proposed bipartisan legislation called the Dream Act, which would provide a path to permanent legal residence and, eventually, citizenship for some undocumented young immigrants brought to the United States as children – known as “Dreamers”.
In 2012, President Barack Obama created the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program after the Law of Dreams was not passed by Congress several times. DACA protects undocumented young immigrants who would be covered by the Dream Act from deportation, but it does not provide a path to citizenship.
About three-quarters of Americans support the granting of permanent legal status to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children, according to a survey by the June Pew Research Center.
The US Citizenship Act would provide Green Card eligibility to Dreamers who can provide work history and the opportunity to apply for citizenship after three years.
“We understand how significant this bill is for our Dreamer community, a community that has had to fight every step of the way to be heard,” said Sindy Marisol Benavides, CEO of the League of Latin American United Citizens, in a city hall on February 18 .
It is estimated that 1.3 million individuals eligible for DACA paid $ 2.2 billion in federal taxes and $ 1.8 billion in state and local taxes in 2017, according to an analysis by the bipartisan research and defense organization of New American Economy immigration.
Immigration advocates pointed to the American Dream and Promise Act as a potential fragmented bill.
The proposed legislation, which was passed by the House with bipartisan support in 2019, would create a path for citizenship for Dreamers and those with temporary protection status or deferred forced departure. The latter two categories allow individuals from designated countries to remain in the United States due to conflicts or unsafe conditions in their home country.
“Addressing the undocumented population, especially the Dreamers, is a great piece that we can focus on. It looks to be the most promising, ”said Lima, of Americans for Prosperity.
Agricultural worker reform program
The US Citizenship Act would also give green card eligibility to rural workers who can provide work history and the opportunity to apply for citizenship after three years.
More than a million undocumented rural workers make up 70% of the agricultural workforce, according to a 2020 report by the National Immigration Forum, an immigration advocacy group. Undocumented farm workers contribute $ 9 billion annually to the fruit and vegetable industry alone, the report concluded.
“I’m thinking of our Republican members of Congress who are already making statements … I just want to remind them of all the foods and vegetables they are eating and or any protein they are choosing to eat, who was probably an immigrant who helped to ensure let them be nourished “, said Benavides, from LULAC.
Advocates and experts presented the Agricultural Workforce Modernization Act as a candidate for autonomous reform.
Legislation passed in the House in 2019 would create a path to citizenship for undocumented rural workers and reform the existing H-2A temporary agricultural work visa program.
“We have an example of what happens when a bipartisan bill is passed,” said David Bier, immigration policy analyst at the libertarian think tank Cato Institute, about the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. “Historically, it has always been Republicans who have pushed for expansion of these temporary visa programs. “
Expanding employment-based immigration
The comprehensive immigration bill supported by Biden includes several provisions that expand the paths of legal immigration.
The proposed initiatives include raising the limit for job-based immigrants, not counting spouses and children in the job-based green card limits, and removing from the immigration limits graduates of American universities with a doctorate in STEM areas.
“The improvements in business immigration, for me, are obvious. It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you are on. Almost all of these provisions are really useful,” said immigration lawyer Eleanor Pelta.
Immigration advocates pointed to the impact of immigrants on the US economy.
“The simple fact that smart, hardworking and risky people want to come here is perhaps the United States’ biggest global competitive advantage,” said Jeremy Robbins, executive director of the New American Economy, at the February 18 City Hall.
“Immigration brings new ideas, brings new energy and dynamism, makes communities more vibrant and helps prevent our economy from stagnating,” said Robbins.