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Although there is no particular date of when any immigration reform must be approved , Congress maintains certain days as key to endorsing the Build Back Better budget package , where protection for the undocumented could be included.
Now the “Deadline” is 30 November
The reason is that congressmen must take into account a transportation law of the 2015 that requires an express extension, in order to avoid a lack of funds from the Department of Transportation for roads.
Congress agreed to the extension to December 3, supported by President Joe Biden , but legislators must approve the budget package, which includes the Infrastructure Law of $ 1.2 billion dollars before that date, therefore the 30 November as a limit.
That law includes $ 550, 000 millions of dollars for roads and highways, water, broadband and other infrastructure.
The Caucus Progresista has indicated that it will not vote on the Infrastructure Law if the $ 1 social spending budget bill is not approved at the same time. 75 trillions of dollars , which would include protection for undocumented immigrants yet to be defined.
That is, all plans are tied in some way.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (California), I had previously mentioned the date of 31 of October, as the limit to advance with the infrastructure law and the social package, but negotiations with senators delayed the plan.
A source in Congress told this newspaper that the timing of legislation is complicated, due to negotiations and in immigration matters has not been the exception .
He added that the House is expected to approve the following week the document that will integrate the budget bill that must be sent to the Senate for debate. and vote .
“After that, the Senate needs at least two weeks ”, he indicated in reference to the review, modifications and voting of the budget plan under the Reconciliation rules.
Any fear of the Republicans, even if in the end they do not vote for the integrated reforms.
An uncertain migration plan
Until now the so-called plan C is the one with the greatest clarity regarding immigration reform , but the fiscal impact study prepared by the Office of Pres Congress proposal (CBO), with which it must be negotiated with the parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.
The proposal is to grant a pardon to the deportation for
Some Democrats in the House continue to push the so-called Registry Law, which would open the way to citizenship for undocumented persons who arrived in the country more than 11 years.
In a joint statement, Senators Bob Menéndez (New Jersey), Alex Padilla (California) and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), acknowledged that “the text” on immigration is still being negotiated to join the bill, but advocated a “humane and meaningful reform.”
“While the negotiations on the legislative text of immigration reform, we must continue to advance our shared goal of achieving humane and meaningful immigration reform through the reconciliation process, ”they considered. “We cannot keep immigrant communities waiting and we have a moral imperative to achieve this change.”
The trio of senators, who are leading the negotiations with MP MacDonough, they asked House Majority Leaders Pelosi and Senate, Chuck Schumer (New York ), reach an agreement as soon as possible.
“Last week we were optimistic when the House of Representatives included provisions to provide a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants,” they noted. “This is why we strongly urge the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives today to act boldly and continue to fight for the broadest possible legal protections.”
Activist discontent
Activists have expressed their discontent over how the Democrats have advanced with the immigration plans, to the point of expressing some confusion, especially when the original plan was open the way to citizenship .
“ We do not understand the logic, the logic that is being used to move this idea of giving Permanent Residence to a smaller group of people “, stated Angelica Salas, executive director of CHIRLA in a conference with several organizations. “If the logic with which they want to reduce the number of people who are going to qualify for a Permanent Residence is because of what the parliamentarian said, when… she said no to the dreamers, to the Tepesians… to essential workers, to the peasants… for me the logic is to ignore the decision. ”