President-elect Joe Biden is expected to propose an immigration overhaul that includes a pathway to citizenship for about 11 million undocumented immigrants, The Associated Press reports.
Biden said he would unveil the bill on his first day in office after he spent his campaign railing against Trump’s “unrelenting assault” on the immigration system and vowing to “undo the damage” once he enters the White House.
The bill would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants but is not expected to include enhanced border security, which has been unsuccessfully used to coax Republicans to back similar plans in the past.
How it would work:
Under the bill, those in the US without legal status as of January 2021 will have a five-year path to obtain a green card if they pass background checks, pay taxes, and fulfill other requirements. After that, they would have a three-year path to gain citizenship.
Undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as children and agricultural workers under temporary protective status would also be able to qualify for a green card immediately if they are working, being educated, or fulfill other requirements.
Bill less comprehensive than previous efforts:
Though the bill would provide a faster timeline for citizenship compared to previous bills, the legislation does not include measures to address border security or create any new guest worker or visa programs.
It also does not address the root causes of mass migration from Central America.
The bill would provide grants for workforce development and English language learning, according to the AP.
