immigration reform
New bipartisan immigration legislation proposed in U.S. House
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of six U.S. House lawmakers on Tuesday described details of proposed legislation that would create a legal pathway for citizenship for undocumented people through work requirements, and would also fund border security measures. The two Latinas who spearheaded the bill, Reps. Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat, and María Elvira Salazar, […]
Talks over protecting Dreamers pick up in Congress, but agreement still elusive
NC’s Tillis in the middle of last-minute, long-shot negotiations WASHINGTON — In a last-minute push, U.S. senators are working on a bipartisan agreement to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented people who were brought to the United States as children. But the success of any major immigration deal appears unlikely, as a lame-duck session […]
U.S. Senate Democrats make a last-ditch push for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers
WASHINGTON — Democratic U.S. senators have set a December deadline for passing bipartisan legislation that would create a pathway to citizenship for more than 600,000 undocumented people who were brought into the country as children — but they don’t yet have enough Senate Republican votes to make it a reality. During a Wednesday press conference […]
Immigration reform blocked from reconciliation bill in Congress, but Democrats vow to try again
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate parliamentarian has turned down a plan to include a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, a blow for Democrats and immigration advocacy groups when the decision was disclosed late Sunday. “We are deeply disappointed in this decision but the fight to provide […]
U.S. House reconciliation package would provide path to citizenship
DACA program participants among the groups that would benefit A provision tucked in the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package would direct Congress to chart a path for citizenship for millions of undocumented people. If passed, the House provision would provide a pathway to citizenship for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — often […]
As immigration reform inches forward, nativist politicians falsely blame immigrants for COVID-19
Thom Tillis inundates Senate budget resolution with anti-immigrant amendments Immigration took center stage again last week in Washington as U.S. Senate Democrats included funding for a proposed path to citizenship for many immigrants in the budget resolution that won approval. Unfortunately, during the process in which the legislation was developed, North Carolina’s Senator Thom Tillis […]
From limited changes to ag worker visas to a comprehensive immigration overhaul – what political and business leaders want
Politicians, businesspeople, and academic leaders from North and South Carolina spoke up for changes to U.S. immigration laws last week. Some supported comprehensive changes, while others focused on narrower issues. The American Business Immigration Coalition Carolinas’ Chapter held the summit last week, where most participants provided prerecorded statements. The coalition wants bipartisan support for immigration […]
U.S. House passes Dreamers bill over GOP objections, as immigration debate intensifies
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House took up two bills Thursday that would grant legal status to broad groups of immigrants living and working in the United States, including a pathway to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of undocumented people brought to the country as children. The measures mark the first step towards what advocates for […]
New attempt in Congress to help Dreamers runs into familiar obstacles
WASHINGTON — Legislation creating a path to citizenship for undocumented people brought to the U.S. as children faces a new border crisis and old partisan objections, diminishing the chances it will become law despite full Democratic control of Congress and the White House. On Thursday, the U.S. House is poised to pass the American Dream […]
Biden immigration overhaul would open a door to citizenship for 11 million people
WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden is poised to send a sweeping immigration reform bill to Congress Thursday that would lay out a path for nearly 11 million undocumented people to obtain citizenship within eight years. Immigration has been one of the toughest issues for Congress to tackle, and the legislation’s fate is unclear in a House in […]
Devastating consequences if Congress fails to replace DACA in three months
Ever since the Trump administration decided to end DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) in September, tens of thousands of North Carolinians’ lives have been plunged into turmoil. It is now up to Congress to pass a viable long-term solution, or risk tearing families apart, undermining our economy, and throwing a wrench into public finances. […]
Advocacy groups pan Tillis’ rigorous proposal to provide undocumented youth with legal status (with video)
U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) unveiled a “merit-based” plan on Monday aimed at addressing the legal uncertainty facing young undocumented adults who were brought to this country as children. Tillis says the SUCCEED Act would provide a fair but rigorous track for undocumented children to qualify for conditional permanent resident (CPR) status. Here’s more from […]