The House on Thursday passed bipartisan legislation that would give young, undocumented immigrants, known as “Dreamers,” the opportunity to gain permanent legal status and even U.S. citizenship.
The bill, known as the American Dream and Promise Act, cleared the House by a 228-197 vote. Nine Republicans joined every single Democratic representative to OK the legislation, which now goes to the Senate.
It provides legal status to anyone who came to this country before the age of 19 and before January 1, 2021. There are approximately 2.5 million so-called “Dreamers” in the U.S. who first came here as children. The bill also offers pathways to citizenship for 400,000 immigrants who were granted temporary protective status for various humanitarian considerations.
The bill is one of two proposals the House is voting on that are part of President Biden’s attempts to overhaul the country’s immigration policy. The worsening situation at the southwest border has made immigration debate, always a tough topic to find middle ground on in Washington, even more fractious.