It’s no secret that right now, being an immigrant in our country is very difficult. Since taking office, the Trump administration has already started revamping legal immigration policy, which has caused paperwork to increase dramatically. However, not everyone in Washington is working against immigrants, and some support may be found in unexpected places.
Are Republicans Starting to Support Dreamers?
President Trump has already given Congress notice that on March 6, 2018 he will end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. DACA, as it’s more widely known, helps undocumented immigrants who were brought into the country as children get jobs, Social Security numbers and helps them enroll in college. It’s estimated that some 800,000 undocumented immigrants-Dreamers-are enrolled in this program, and these enrollees are also temporarily protected from deportation. That means thousands could face deportation, but Congress is making an attempt to stop this from happening.
Bills like the “Dream Act” have been introduced by Congressional Democrats, but has seemingly been resisted by Republicans. However, House Speaker Paul Ryan has been meeting with his fellow Republicans to hammer out a deal that would be agreeable to both Democrats and the White House. Such a measure would save Dreamers, and they are hoping to roll out this plan with the latest spending budget bill at the end of the year. But there are several issues that each side will have to come to terms on.
The President says he will only sign legislation continuing DACA if it includes measures to increase border security. Some Republicans also wish to include measures that limit immigrant family members that can enter the country, and measures that encourage merit-based immigration policy. Negotiations are expected to be long and hard, but it does represent a hope that lawmakers may work something out before the March deadline.
Want to learn more? Rely on the Law Offices of Sweta Khandelwal to help clarify the confusion immigration policy can sometimes cause. We find solutions for families that need help.
