The US Senate approved the Gang of Eight’s immigration reform bill, S. 744. This bill passed the Senate with a 68 to 32 vote in favor and none of the Democrats voted against this immigration bill. This legislation would set up an earned path to US citizenship for the nation’s undocumented immigrants and expand few existing visa programs. Likewise, the bill would protect children and other vulnerable individuals in deportation proceedings. According to this bill, undocumented immigrants in America, need to wait for 13 long years to become citizens of the United States. But immediately after the bill is signed into law, undocumented immigrants who meet few necessities would be permitted to apply for temporary legal status and so they could start working legally in America soon after President Obama signs this bill into law.
The bill would open a path to US citizenship to the undocumented immigrants who meet the following requirements and at the time of applying for legal status, unauthorized residents must establish that they
- are admissible into America.
- had entered into America legally or illegally before 31st Dec, 2011.
- have been living continuously in America since 31st Dec, 2011.
- had never illegally cast their votes in America.
- have never been convicted of 3 or more misdemeanors or felonies.
The Senate bill that would put the undocumented immigrants on a path to US citizenship, has now cleared the US Senate. The US Congress will pass the bill, if it passes the House and then it will be signed into law by President Obama. According to President Obama, the bipartisan bill is consistent and it includes all the key principles. This bill would require the US Department of Homeland Security to make sure that a better border security program is in place prior to permitting the unauthorized residents to obtain Green Cards. Apart from increasing security along the border, the bill would mandate an internet based workplace verification system in order to ensure that the people who are not authorized to work in America are not given jobs. S.744 would also benefit the high and the low skilled foreign workers. The Border Security, Economy Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, if passed would reunite families and make America safer.
More on Immigration Reform:
- History of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
- The Border Security, Economic Opportunity & Immigration Modernization Act Of 2013
- Provisions for Children in the Immigration Reform Bill
- Senate Immigration Bill Would Put an End to Unauthorized Immigration
- What is Registered Provisional Immigrant Status?