Chamber integrates forgiveness of deportation to undocumented persons and work permit in new budget bill

Although negotiations between congressmen continue, this Wednesday, the House of Representatives released a new wording on a possible protection for undocumented immigrants , which would be approved under the Reconciliation process.

After intense negotiations with senators, the representatives agreed to integrate the plan that would grant the pardon to deportation or 'parole', in addition to Employment Authorization that could benefit 7.1 million people, but does not open the way to citizenship.

The document specifies that the deportation pardon will be for a period of five years or until 2031 , whichever occurs first.

Those individuals must meet the eligibility requirements, that is, pass criminal and public safety background checks, as required by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

This protection against deportation will allow the beneficiary to work and travel abroad, as well as request an identification, including the so-called REAL ID , indicates the document with which the Build Back Better agenda is promoted.

The immigrants who will benefit are those who arrived in the country before January 1, 2011 , either as undocumented or who entered with a visa that later expired.

In this way, the Democratic representatives align themselves with the plan that is being promoted in the Senate, which is still under evaluation by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), but which will be presented to the parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.

The Hispanic Caucus would have been negotiating directly with the senators they lead, including Senators  Bob Menéndez  (New Jersey),  Alex Padilla  (California) and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), who recognized a protection over immigration  must be integrated into the budget bill.

"While negotiations on immigration reform legislation continue, 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 bring about this change."

The new proposal also contemplates measures to use remnants of 'green cards', to be applied in work permits and family applications.

Limit date

Although there is no particular date for when any immigration reform must be approved  ,  Congress maintains certain days as the key to endorsing the Build Back Better package .

Now the "deadline" is November 30 , when previously October 31 was marked as such.

The reason is that congressmen must take into account a 2015 transportation law 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 lawmakers must approve the budget package, which includes the $ 1.2 billion Infrastructure Act, before that date, which is why it is marked on November 30. as a limit.

That law includes $ 550 billion for roads and highways, water, broadband and other infrastructure.

The Progressive Caucus had indicated that it will not vote on the Infrastructure Law if the budget bill for social spending of $ 1.75 billion dollars is not approved on time , which would include protection for undocumented immigrants.