The House approved the American Dream and Promise Act, which would create a process for the undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, otherwise known as “DREAMERS”, to earn permanent resident status and eventual citizenship. It also includes a path to citizenship for people with temporary protected status and beneficiaries of deferred enforced departure. If signed into law, the American Dream and Promise Act would make recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and other undocumented immigrants brought to the country before age 18 eligible to apply for a 10-year period of conditional permanent residence if they satisfy several requirements. Applicants would be eligible to apply for permanent residence if they earned a college degree or enrolled in a bachelor’s program for two years; if they served in the military for at least two years; or if they worked in the U.S. for a three-year period.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, also passed Thursday and it would help the agriculture workers and their families stay legally in the United States. Some agricultural workers would be permitted to gain a green card if they pay a fine and stay in the industry for an additional four to eight years, depending on how long they had already been doing farm work. The act would also amend the existing H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program.