- On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act.
- The bill could place 2.3 million "
Dreamers " on a path to citizenship.
On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act, one of two major
If signed into law, the bill will place 2.3 million "Dreamers," unauthorized immigrants who arrived in the US as minors, on a path to citizenship.
At least 300,000 immigrants who have Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure, forms of humanitarian relief, would also be put on a track toward permanent residency if they meet eligibility requirements.
All House Democrats voted to approve the legislation, and nine Republicans voted with them, in a 228-197 vote.
The American Dream and Promise Act would allow Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and other unauthorized immigrants who arrived in the US before the age of 18 to apply, if they meet the requirements, for a 10-year conditional permanent residency.
Applicants qualify if they earned a college degree or attended a bachelor's program for two years, served in the military for two years, or worked in the US for three years.
The new bill is headed to the Senate and, if signed, would mean the children of immigrants who hold temporary work visas would be eligible to apply for status outside employment-based processes.
The House is also expected to pass a second bill Thursday that would offer temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of farmworkers.