House Democrats unveiled a far-reaching immigration bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented residents and implement new national enforcement measures while arguing, in almost equal measure, for what they described as necessary border security moves. Written entirely by Democrats, the measure is expected to be debated in Congress in the coming months. Among the many proposed major changes to the US immigration system, the bill set a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million immigrants reckoned to be living presently in the country without proper documents. Between various stipulations, the eligible person would be in a position to apply for a green card. It also encodes the permanency of people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has been legally challenged since the start.
The bill will also contain border enforcement provisions that increase funding for infrastructure and technology at the border, along with additional resources for border patrol agents. The act would further make the family unification process much shorter, so that the accused family does not have to undergo a lot of time without being together. The act would also increase funding for immigration courts, reducing the backlog of cases and allowing immigrants to have a timely and fair hearing. According to supporters of the bill, this would, therefore, bring gigantic economic and social benefits for the US.
This bill hints at offering a chance at citizenship to undocumented immigrants, thus fortifying the workforce, spurring economic growth, and enhancing social integration in society. However, the bill is strongly resisted in Congress. The Republicans have concerns over border security and have vowed to block any bill until it contains adequate funding for border infrastructure. The bill is likely to be argued in Congress over the next couple of months, with a vote expected in the House of Representatives before moving to the Senate. While there is no certainty that it is going to pass, backers feel that they are in a very strong position that should tip the balance in their favor.