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The new $ 3.5 billion economic project for families and infrastructure, which is promoted by Democrats in Congress, establishes the basis for an immigration reform that would grant citizenship to millions of undocumented .
The Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer (New York), released several documents on the proposals that different committees must work on to create a law to be debated under the Reconciliation process.
In the “Framework of the Budget Resolution Agreement for the Fiscal Year 2022 ”is where some guidelines for the committees are mentioned, such as the Judicial Committee, chaired by the Democrat Dick Durbin (Illinois), which you will need to create three projects –including immigration– based on $ 80, 000 millions of dollars.
“(Plan of) permanent legal status (‘green card’) for qualified immigrants” , says the route that the senators of that committee should follow.
should consider investments for border security and a community intervention initiative against violence.
In another document on “priority lines” on the budget project also mentions the immigration issue in the “Infrastructure and Jobs” section.
“(The project) provides green cards to millions of immigrant workers and families “, Says the text, but does not specify which groups of migrants will benefit.
Funding for” smart technology for secure borders is also contemplated and efficient. ”
Schumer told his Senate colleagues who must coordinate with their parts of the House of Representatives, to advance in parallel with the plans that will integrate the bill under the Reconciliation process.
“We are carefully coordinating our work on the budget with our colleagues in the Chamber, ”he wrote. “Committees with Reconciliation instructions will work closely with their House counterparts to draft this legislation” .
The House Judiciary Committee is chaired by the Democrat Jerry Nadler (New York ), who will have to coordinate with his counterpart Durbin for the elaboration of the project of the projects, including an immigration reform justified under economic arguments.
A complex path
Although the Democrats are confident in to advance the immigration process, in an interview with this newspaper, the representative Raúl Ruiz (California), president of the Hispanic Caucus in Congress, recognized that they should be very careful about what to integrate into the plan.
He said that the approval of citizenship for at least eight million undocumented would be defended, he advanced that the number will depend, to a large extent, on the specifications imposed by the congressional parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough .
“If we go beyond what is allowed under those rules, and if we are not clear in our arguments, she can decide that no, that we cannot put immigration reform under the Reconciliation process, “said Ruiz.
Democrats prepare several scenarios that include the ‘dreamers’, people under the Status of Temporary Protection (TPS), field workers and essential workers of medical areas and health services food, among other sectors.
“So, our approach and strategy The Hispanics in Congress … is to amplify … that we can, to include as many as we can “, he advanced.
It is expected that more delay in November there is a possible immigration reform .
The 71% of Americans support granting citizenship to undocumented people, mainly “agricultural workers and other essential workers.” Support is also high among Republicans, as the 61% said be in favor, according to a survey by NPR / Ipsos .