Immigration bill to protect ‘Dreamers’ provides path to citizenship

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, along with other Democratic representatives, speaks to the media about the American Dream and Promise Act.

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Democrats, persistently avoided a White House decision threat and muscled legislation through the House on Tuesday.

The measure is just one conflict in Democrats’ multi-front battle with most congressional Republicans over immigration, an issue that has deadlocked the two parties for decades but still escalates under the harsh policies and oratory of President Trump.

The bill passed on a near party-line 237-187 vote as the supporters in the House visitors' galleries roared, "Yes we can!" and other chants, a rare display of ruthless emotion in a chamber where rules require decorum by guests.

Also read: US Immigration: Key immigration programs

The House-passed bill would protect from expulsion and provide a pathway toward citizenship for young migrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Many would be "Dreamers" currently safeguarded by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which only the federal courts have foiled Trump from dismantling.
It would also shield others here temporarily because their home countries — chiefly in Central America, Africa and the Middle East — have been destroyed by wars or natural disasters.

Democrats said that besides humanitarian considerations, helping the migrants stay in the U.S. would benefit the economy and the many industries that employ them as workers. 
They would qualify for full, permanent legal residence if they attain post-secondary degrees, serve in the military or have worked for at least three years. After another five years, they could then apply for citizenship.

Democrats' separate homeland security bill would cancel $601 million from procurement programs, dinging Trump for trying to shift that amount from a Treasury fund toward building a border wall, and cut the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds. That move by Democrats seeks to reduce the government's ability to detain migrants instead of releasing them pending court appearances.

Both proposals seem certain to attract another Trump veto promise.


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