Source: China News Network
Washington, March 18 (China News Service) -- The US House of Representatives voted on march 18 local time to pass two immigration bills that will provide legal status for illegal immigrants such as eligible "dreamers."
In the first vote on the status of "dream chaser (child illegally brought into the United States before the age of 18)," the House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 228 in favor and 197 against.
The bill would give eligible "dreamers" 10 years of legal residency status, including that these "dreamers" must have graduated from high school and have no serious criminal record. If a "dreamer" wants to obtain permanent residency status, he or she needs to obtain a higher degree, join the military, or be employed for at least 3 years.
According to US media reports, there are currently about 2 million "dreamers" in the United States.
On the same day, the House of Representatives also passed another bill with a vote of 247 in favor and 174 votes against, which would grant about 1 million illegal immigrants working in the agricultural field in the United States 5 and a half years of legal residence status that can be reapplied.
According to the Associated Press, the 1 million farmers who work illegally in the United States account for half of the total number of people who work in agriculture in the United States.
Pelosi, a Democrat and speaker of the House of Representatives, said on the same day that "these immigrants make our country stronger, richer and greater, and they must be allowed to live here."
Most Republican lawmakers opposed both bills, arguing that it would bring about a "border crisis."
According to the U.S. government, the number of illegal immigrants arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border has been on the rise since April. The number of illegal immigrants arrested in February reached 100441, the highest since March 2019.
Next, the two bills will be voted on in the Senate. Democrats and Republicans currently hold 50 seats each in the Senate, and both bills require 60 votes to pass. (End)