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In a new proposed bipartisan bill, several U.S. senators are looking to find a compromise solution to issues related to border security, as well as help for DREAMers (immigrants who were born outside of this country, but came to the U.S. at a young age.) The bill, if passed, would introduce a number of dramatic changes aimed at reducing the number of immigrants in detention facilities, as well as introduce a potential path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. However, the bill faces an uphill battle to obtain passage, with some members of the House and Senate already announcing their opposition.
What is in This Bill?
In the proposed legislation, which is being sponsored by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I, AZ) and Sen. John Cornyn (R, TX), a number of measures are put forward to address what they describe as a record number of illegal border crossings, which have placed an enormous strain on the immigration system. Among other things, it would introduce significant changes to the asylum system, such as extending Title 42, a measure that allows for the detention of asylum seekers at the border. It would also introduce a path to citizenship for DREAMers, undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and who struggle to obtain legal status as a result.
Why is This Bill Being Supported?
The two senators who proposed the bill say they have put forward the bill to address long-standing problems related to the immigration system. For a long time, detention centers have struggled with having insufficient space and resources to deal with the number of immigrants that cross into the United States. Meanwhile DREAMers have been left in a legal limbo due to a lack of available options to obtain citizenship, putting them in a precarious position. The bill would, in theory, address both of these issues in one comprehensive package.
Why is it Being Opposed?
The proposed bill, however, has faced substantial criticism, particularly from anti-immigration politicians in the House of Representatives, such as Rep. Chip Roy (R, TX). He criticized the proposed path to citizenship for DREAMers as “amnesty” for illegal immigrants, and said he would refuse to vote for legislation that does not solely focus on border security. However, without the path to citizenship, such a bill is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate, meaning the bill faces substantial struggles to obtain passage.
What Would Happen if it Were Passed?
If the bill were passed in a form similar to how it has been proposed, it would likely make things substantially harder for asylum seekers, who could be stuck with a system that would make it more difficult for them to obtain asylum protections. However, DREAMers would also have their first opportunity to seek a pathway to U.S. citizenship in their lifetimes. The question is how much the bill would need to change before it could pass in the current Congress.
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