October 4: House Democrats came up with a new immigration unveiled on Wednesday that includes a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants. These immigrants need to satisfy strict criteria to secure legal status. The bill also includes the provision for tighter border security along the US Mexico border to get Republican support.
It is uncertain whether the bill will be taken up for debate or not since the Congress is held up due to the budget standoff. Democrats are still not giving up hope that Republicans would come together to discuss the new immigration bill.
The Immigration Bill cleared in the Senate could not clear in the house since Republicans had objections for the pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants and border security.
The current bill omits the provision of 700 miles of fencing and 20,000 agents’ employment along the US Mexico border. However, another provision approved by the House Homeland Security Committee was added which requires the department of homeland security to establish a strategy where 90 percent of those who attempt to illegally cross the border can be arrested.
Critics feel that the diversity visa program and the sibling category from family reunification petitions should not have been excluded from the bill. However, many immigration reform advocates feel the bill will build momentum for advancing the efforts toward immigration reform in the House. Most republicans are said to prefer a piecemeal approach toward immigration reform as opposed to one bill dealing with all aspects.
The release of the bill is timed to be Oct. 5, National Day of Action, when immigrant rights, faith and labor groups plan to hold more than 100 rallies, vigils and other actions to press Congress to work on immigration legislation.
Analysts believe that the new bill is only symbolic and is not likely to pass in the House since there are only a few legislative days left this year and the GOP is not ready to budge. However, that does not prevent immigration reform advocates from building pressure on the Congress to act on the issue.
easyIME.com is a free service, which streamlines the immigration medical process for green card aspirants by helping them locate the right USCIS Physician and schedule their immigration medical exam online. Green card aspirants can also find immigration lawyers near their zip code through this service.
