During your almost 30 years of life, José Múñoz has lived with the anguish of being detained and deported.
On 2013 when he benefited from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, he got a break by getting a work permit, a driver’s license and finishing college.
However, in the last four years, since President Trump canceled DACA, his life as well as that of more than 550, 000 young people benefited from this program, it has been in the hands of the courts .
“So far DACA is still in danger,” said Múñoz, who came to the United States at three months of age and is currently a spokesperson. of the United We Dream organization.
During the videoconference “ The House of Representatives approves bills to legalize millions: Will the Senate annul these reforms? ”offered by Ethnic Media Services, Múñoz said that even that DACA has helped hundreds of thousands like him, it does not protect all the undocumented.
“The only way to really give protection to the undocumented people is that Congress approve a path to citizenship and must do so as soon as possible. The Democrats who are in charge of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House must do everything that is required, that is in their power and not allow the Republicans to obstruct this issue. ”
Joseph Villela, director of policy and advocacy for the Coalition for Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), said DACA has been a benefit for young people and their families, but also for the economy.
“ If there is a negative decision in court against DACA, it will be up to Congress that the 600, 03 beneficiaries do not return to the shadows. It is time to help the undocumented and the DACA ”.
He emphasized that the migration system does not it works for anyone. “We urge the Democratic majority to try to reform filibustering or parliamentary obstructionism and seek a reconciliation that can help.”
What is filibusterism?
The lawyer on migration Brent Renison of the Global Immigration Counsel organization, said that filibusterism or parliamentary obstructionism was created in 1806 and has been used by both parties when they are in the minority in the Senate.
“From 1950 to 1970 Senators from the southern United States used it to oppose proposals that sought to establish civil rights to give equality to African Americans, ”he said.
But more recently, it was in 2006 when senators began using him to oppose migration proposals. “Between and 2013, Republicans used it a lot to reject proposals from Democratic senators. In turn, Democratic senators used this strategy to oppose fewer Republican bills among 2015 Y 2020”.
This year 2021, Democrats have 50 Senate seats. “They will have to deal with the requirement that bills must receive 60 votes in the Senate to be approved. Obstructionism would force Democrats to gain the support of at least 10 Republicans to pass most immigration laws. ”
Renison hinted that there is already a debate on whether Democrats should eliminate obstructionism completely and pass immigration bills with a simple majority.
Live worried
Before being a spokesperson From the United Farm Workers Foundation (UFW), Leydy Rangel was a former farm worker just like her parents, siblings, and cousins. “Before going to university, I worked in the fields,” said Rangel.
He is currently protected with DACA and is very grateful for it, but emphasized that they need permanent protection.
“ I’m worried about renewing DACA every two years and because I can’t establish a permanent life ”.
Almost a million agricultural workers are undocumented in the country.
Rangel talks about a law that legalizes agricultural workers and their parents , would allow them to return to their countries to see their families.
“They would have the legal right to contribute to society through agriculture . With a path to citizenship, they will also be able to improve their working conditions and avoid abuses and other related problems. ”
Projects at stake
Theresa Cardinal Brown, director of migration policies and border crossings from the Bipartisan Policy Center discussed HR 6, the Dream and Promise Act and the HR 1603, Law of Modernization of the Agricultural Workforce, which have already been approved by the House of Representatives.
Explained that HR 6 will give permanent resident status to dreamers and beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and dependent children of highly skilled foreign workers who tend to be left without status when they meet the 18 years.
“ It is estimated that more than 3 million people may be eligible under this bill “.
Meanwhile, he stated that the HR 1603 which was also approved by the representatives, provides a path to obtain residency and apply for citizenship to agricultural workers who meet certain requirements; and expands the H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers.
It is estimated – he specified – that there are more than one million undocumented workers who could become citizens, thanks to this bill.
“A Some migration advocates would like H2-A visas to be fully portable so that the worker can go from one job to another, without being linked to an employer to sponsor them “.
Can Biden pass executive action to pass these bills if they get stuck in Congress?
“The president can do it, but not as the proposed legislation would. Biden has already restored DACA so that new applicants can enroll, but there are legal challenges. And if the courts say that the DACA program is illegal, it would end and other legislation would have to be passed for dreamers . It has also extended TPS, but the provisions to give them permanent immigration status could not be with a presidential executive action. ”