ANALYSIS
While we are pleased that the bill would provide a road to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants, we have grave concerns about affordability and other roadblocks that would limit who can actually get on the road to citizenship. More than a quarter of undocumented families have annual incomes lower than $20,000, and fines totaling $2000 pose a significant hurdle for these families. In addition, a work requirement is unnecessary. Unauthorized immigrants already participate in the labor force at high rates (94 percent for men between the ages of 18 and 64), and requiring proof of regular employment (with no gap longer than 60 days) from those who seek to renew their status will be difficult for many low-wage immigrants in irregular or seasonal employment and creates an unnecessary level of governmental red tape. Many immigrants have a desire to learn English, but, given the limited availability of English-as-a-second-language courses, we are concerned that many will be unable to satisfy the English requirement. If this requirement remains in the bill, we must ensure that immigrants have the ability to access affordable courses. Given the government’s inhumane detention and deportation practices, it is important that this bill provide an opportunity for people who have been deported, and who are either DREAMers or have a U.S. citizen or LPR immediate family member, to be reunited with their families.
 

DREAM
 

ANALYSIS
These provisions comprise the best version of the DREAM Act to date. We are particularly heartened by this expedited process for DREAMers that recognizes the special circumstances of those brought to the U.S. at a young age. We urge the DHS secretary to establish streamlined procedures for DACA recipients.

Family- and Employment-based Immigration

ANALYSIS
While we are disappointed with the proposed elimination of the sibling and the diversity visa categories, we are hopeful that the proposed aggressive backlog reduction measures would address the current bottleneck. We support measures to eliminate visa caps on immediate family members so that spouses and parents can be reunited quickly. It is notable that people who have been lawfully present for 10 years, such as those with temporary protected status (TPS), would essentially get credit for the years they have been in the U.S. and would be able to adjust to LPR status immediately. Further analysis of the merit-based visa system is needed to understand its impact on low-income workers and families.

Access to Public Benefits and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

ANALYSIS
Under the bill’s provisions, individuals granted RPI status, blue-card status, and V visas are arbitrarily and harmfully denied access to affordable health care and nutrition assistance for 5 to 15 years. Yet during this same period, these individuals are expected to work in order to provide for themselves and their families. But no one can predict when he or she will fall ill or be injured in an accident, which is why individuals on the road to citizenship need access to affordable health care to fulfill their American dreams.