The immigration agenda of the Biden administration faced some difficulties in the Senate. The Senate rejected the proposal of the Democrat Party to combine the immigration policies into the $3.5 trillion social spending bill.
Democrats are proposing a “weighty change” in immigration policy
Elizabeth MacDonough, the U.S. Senate Parliamentarian, was approached by the Democrat lawmakers who were seeking to legalize the stay of millions of illegal immigrants by changing the registry date.
According to reports, the Democrat Party wanted to change the process by amending the date from 1972 to 2010; thus, allowing individuals who arrived in the United States in 2010 or after to have legal status.
However, the Senate parliamentarian labeled the proposal as a “non-starter” and declined for the second time the plea of the Democrat Party to amend the registry date.
MacDonough called the proposed amendment a “weighty change” in the policy, reiterating her decision is in line with the first verdict when the proposal of the Democrat Party was likewise rejected.
Democrats pitch parliamentarian on immigration Plan B https://t.co/yyYPaJegzZ
— Greg Siskind (@gsiskind) September 28, 2021
It can be noted this is not the first time the Democrats experienced difficulty in pushing their radical immigration policies. Previously, Democrats attempted to offer almost 8 million green cards to four groups of illegal immigrants.
These groups include the Temporary Protected Status holders, the Dreamers, agricultural workers, and essential workers.
Senate Parliamentarian labeled the proposal as “not appropriate”
However, the Senate Parliamentarian marked the proposal as rather “not appropriate” to undergo the reconciliation process. Despite the first verdict, Democrats were unfazed by it, as they promised to maintain their efforts to legalize illegal immigrants in the country.
In relation to this, Bob Menendez, a Democrat senator from New Jersey, vowed to come up with “Plan C” soon. In a similar way, Sen. Duck Durbin of Illinois also expressed his disappointment over the decision.
On top of this, the Democrats also aim to include as many policy measures as they possibly can into the social spending law. Through this process, Democrats can pass controversial policies (without the need for votes from Republicans) and avoid a filibuster.
I disagree with today’s decision from the Parliamentarian, as I did with the principle of her initial decision. Dems will present her with a Plan C, because we must deliver real results for as many undocumented immigrants as possible. https://t.co/MIBtzlihph
— Senator Bob Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) September 29, 2021
At present, the registry date for undocumented immigrants only allows them to apply for legal status in the United States if they arrived in the country before 1972. However, the Democrat Party wants to lengthen this date to 2010, in their efforts to oppose the Senate parliamentarian.
According to recent data, if the date were extended, almost 6.7 million illegal immigrants will be eligible to have legal status in the U.S.; this would, in turn, create a significant burden to the country’s resources.
Despite the drawback the Democrat Party experienced, they have no plans to stop their efforts to legalize millions of undocumented immigrants. The White House likewise promised to pass the bill through other means.
