The plan to avoid the deportation of the undocumented, give them work permission, but without citizenship.
It had been spread as a rumor, but a Senate source confirmed to this newspaper that the Democrats have on the table the option of offering a deportation pardon to undocumented immigrants and granting them Employment Authorization, but without the right of way to citizenship .
Although the Democratic senators, led by Dick Durbin (Illinois) have a hand in the negotiations with the MP Elizabeth MacDonough , the representatives of the House, such as Jerrold Nadler (New York), are processing the proposal, it was indicated.
House sources confirmed to this newspaper that the drafting of the proposal could be completed this week, but then an analysis of the cost of implementing it must be done and then sent to the office of parliamentarian MacDonough .
"Right now they are fine-tuning the legal language," said one of the sources who is not authorized to speak openly on the subject.
It should be noted that MacDonough is out for medical treatment, sources from both chambers indicated, so he will return until the following week, so a new decision on immigration would take several more days .
The representative Adriano Spaillat (New York), told The Hill the plan that he recognized "less ambitious" than the first two rejected by the parliamentarian MacDonough.
"Next in line is this probation option (or 'parole'), which is not as ambitious as the first two, but it also provides relief to a significant number of people who are here without documentation and allows them to work," he said. Espaillat.
Meanwhile, Democrats continue their push and pull over the $ 3.5 billion package under pressure from Senators Joe Manchin (West Virginia) and Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona), who break the minimum majority in the Senate.
Until now, few Latino congressmen have said that they “ will not” support a Reconciliation project without an immigration plan, besides Espaillat there are Jesús “Chuy” García (Illinois) and Lou Correa (California).
Exclusive
The plan to avoid the deportation of the undocumented, give them work permission, but without citizenship
After the rejection of the parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on two proposals that would grant the 'green card' to millions of foreigners, the Democrats prepare a plan C that is less attractive, since it would not open the way to the naturalization of these people, leaving them in a kind of migratory limbro
Activists demand that Democrats fulfill their promise to open the way to citizenship for the undocumented.
PHOTO: KEVIN DIETSCH / GETTY IMAGES
By: Jesús García October 05, 2021
It had been spread as a rumor, but a Senate source confirmed to this newspaper that the Democrats have on the table the option of offering a deportation pardon to undocumented immigrants and granting them Employment Authorization, but without the right of way to citizenship .
Although the Democratic senators, led by Dick Durbin (Illinois) have a hand in the negotiations with the MP Elizabeth MacDonough , the representatives of the House, such as Jerrold Nadler (New York), are processing the proposal, it was indicated.
House sources confirmed to this newspaper that the drafting of the proposal could be completed this week, but then an analysis of the cost of implementing it must be done and then sent to the office of parliamentarian MacDonough .
"Right now they are fine-tuning the legal language," said one of the sources who is not authorized to speak openly on the subject.
It should be noted that MacDonough is out for medical treatment, sources from both chambers indicated, so he will return until the following week, so a new decision on immigration would take several more days .
The representative Adriano Spaillat (New York), told The Hill the plan that he recognized "less ambitious" than the first two rejected by the parliamentarian MacDonough.
"Next in line is this probation option (or 'parole'), which is not as ambitious as the first two, but it also provides relief to a significant number of people who are here without documentation and allows them to work," he said. Espaillat.
Meanwhile, Democrats continue their push and pull over the $ 3.5 billion package under pressure from Senators Joe Manchin (West Virginia) and Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona), who break the minimum majority in the Senate.
Until now, few Latino congressmen have said that they “ will not” support a Reconciliation project without an immigration plan, besides Espaillat there are Jesús “Chuy” García (Illinois) and Lou Correa (California).
The parliamentarian has already rejected two immigration bills to Democrats, one that would give citizenship to eight million essential workers, including 'dreamers', people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and agricultural employees, in addition to a proposal to modify the Registry Law , so that undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US before 2010 could apply for a “green card”.
Pressure on Kamala Harris
Almost 60 civic organizations delivered a letter to Vice President Kamala Harris urging her to use her authority as Speaker of the Senate to evade the opinion of MP MacDonough, in order to integrate a plan to grant citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrants.
The letter was signed by 57 groups and coalitions, including NAKASEC Action Fund, CASA in Action, Center for Popular Democracy Action, NYIC Action, CHIRLA, Make the Road New York, and FIRM Action.
Activists cite the example that, in 1975, former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller ignored the decisions of MP Robert Dove, while former Vice President Hubert Humphrey did so "on a routine basis."
"The legal basis for this authority is found in 2 USCA § 644 (US Code)," the activists note. “In accordance with this provision, if a senator objects that certain provisions that are submitted to the chamber are outside the budget Reconciliation process for reasons that the Senate Parliamentarian had warned for that purpose, that point of order would have to be supported by the President, that is, the Vice President who acts as President ”.
The activists criticize that an “unelected” official maintains the blockade of a plan that allows citizenship to undocumented persons.
"Vice President Harris has a historic and unprecedented opportunity to pave the way for Democrats to finally fulfill the promise of a path to citizenship for the undocumented," said Ana Maria Archila of the Center for Action for Popular Democracy. "(She can) act as President of the Senate, can and should recognize that including a path to citizenship in Reconciliation does not violate Senate rules."