“Biden, dejame entrar por favor” (Biden, please let me in) is written in Spanish on a cardboard box carried by a migrant girl. A group of migrants from diverse backgrounds made their way to the border crossing to seek asylum from the new US administration.
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The House will not vote on the comprehensive immigration bill backed by President Joe Biden this month, a Democratic adviser told NBC News.
The Democrats introduced the US Citizenship Act of 2021 on February 18, which includes an eight-year path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, expanded legal immigration routes and reduced the visa backlog.
“I think Biden’s comprehensive immigration proposal is important and serious. We need to have some consultations with key members and stakeholders, but I see no reason we wouldn’t flag it when we meet again in April,” said Jerry, chairman Justice of the House of Nadler said in a statement to NBC.
The House will vote on standalone immigration laws this month, reintroduced on Wednesday and passed in the Chamber in 2019.
The American Dream and Promise Act would provide a route to citizenship for “dreamers” and those with temporary protection or postponed forced departure. The latter two categories allow people from certain countries to be in the United States because of conflict or unsafe conditions in their home country.
The Farm Workers Modernization Act would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented farm workers and reform the existing H-2A program for temporary farm work visas.
“The Democratic House will pass these important laws and build on their progress with further action to honor our nation’s legacy as immigrants and ensure America’s leadership in the world,” House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday evening .
Immigration advocates have pointed to the two bills as candidates for a step-by-step approach to legislation that could find bipartisan support.
The US Citizenship Act, backed by Biden, faces an uphill battle in Congress, especially in the Senate, where the Democrats have a wafer-thin majority. The legislation would require at least 10 Republican votes to defeat a Senate filibuster and get the bill to a final vote when passed.
Nonetheless, advocates and democratic lawmakers see the comprehensive package as a starting point for discussing options for immigration reform.
