After several weeks of deliberations, Democrats in Congress and the White House are expected to unveil an immigration bill on Thursday that would reform U.S. immigration laws and allow millions of immigrants living in the country without permission to obtain legal status. two persons familiar with the matter said. CBS News.
According to a 66-page summary of legislation passed by CBS News, the proposal would create a two-tier legalization program that would benefit farm workers, temporary protected status (TPS) and undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children for green cards. After three years, they could apply to become U.S. citizens.
All other unauthorized immigrants eligible may apply for temporary relief and work permits for expulsion while placed on an eight-year road to U.S. citizenship. Applicants must all undergo background and national security checks, as well as file taxes and pay application fees.
According to the draft text shared with the congress staff, the plan will not benefit the new arrivals as all prospective applicants will have to prove that they were in the US before January 1, 2021. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be allowed to issue humanitarian exemptions for immigrants deported during the Trump administration, as long as they prove they lived in the U.S. for at least three years before deportation.
California Congresswoman Linda Sánchez and Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, two Democrats with previous experience in drafting immigration policy, will introduce the proposal in the House and Senate, respectively.
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The account, based on parameters reveal by the Biden administration last month, is expected to be put forward by the White House as one of President Biden’s domestic policy priorities during his first year in office. However, the comprehensive proposal would require unanimous Democratic support and at least ten Republican votes in the Senate under current Senate rules – a threshold previously condemned by other immigration reform plans.
On the question of whether the White House would be willing to consider possible amendments to the Republican-led bill that would increase any form of immigration enforcement, an administration official does not rule it out.
“If Republicans want to come forward and work on immigration, I think the president is open to working with anyone who wants to do something and get an account to his desk,” the official said late Wednesday.
The official, who asked for anonymity during the briefing, said Mr. Biden begins a conversation about ‘meaningful and effective border security’.
“We know that a majority of drugs come through ports of access. Therefore, we may approve technology and also repair infrastructure, but we are really trying to find the causes why people come and address legal channels (of immigration),” the official said. continued. “We’re open to a conversation with anyone about this, but we think it’s a much more comprehensive way of dealing with this issue than just a wall.”
In addition to the legislative provisions, the bill would abolish Clinton-era sanctions that would not hamper immigrants leaving the U.S. for another three to ten years, as well as the president’s power to ban groups of immigrants. It would also replace all references to ‘foreigner’ in immigration laws with the term ‘non-citizen’.
Another core of the bill is an extension of legal immigration. The plan would increase the current limit for rural immigrant visas per family and re-allocate unused visas. It would make spouses and children of holders of a ‘green card’ of ‘immediate family members’, which they released from the head of state.
The bill will increase the annual grant of work visas from 140,000 to 170,000, as well as the annual ceiling for diversity visas from 55,000 to 80,000. An additional 10,000 visas would be reserved for a pilot program designed for immigrants that would contribute to the economic development of local communities.
The plan would give the Biden administration $ 1 billion annually between 2022 and 2025 to fund efforts to reduce the violence, poverty, crime, and corruption that fuel American migration from Central America. It also requires the establishment of processing centers in the region where Central Americans, including children at risk, can apply for parole or refugee status to come to the U.S. legally.
Other provisions call on DHS to introduce ‘smart’ border security measures and allocate funds to expand the infrastructure that has access gates to process asylum seekers and intercept banned drugs. DHS will have to issue new guidelines for the care of underage minors who prohibit the department from separating children from their parents to ward off migration or to encourage U.S. immigration law.
The plan will also award 30,000 visas for victims of serious crimes that aid law enforcement; to eliminate the current 1-year deadline, asylum seekers must apply for U.S. refuge; and DHS instructs to expand alternatives to detention for migrants during deportation procedures, especially families with children.