Immigrants in the US can qualify for a green card if they have lived in the country for at least seven years before applying, do not have a criminal record, and meet all other current eligibility requirements, according to a bill proposed to be introduced in the US Senate by Senator Alex Padilla.
Senator Alex Padilla Defends Immigrants
Senator Alex Padilla on X(formerly Twitter) wrote, "America isn’t America without immigrants. But our laws haven’t kept up. Millions of undocumented immigrants have lived, worked, and raised families here for decades. But under current law, they have no way to apply for legal status. That’s because the cutoff date to qualify hasn’t been updated since 1986 under President Reagan — almost 40 years ago. By updating the law to a rolling cutoff, we could keep families together and unlock our economic potential."
Immigrant Bill Critics
However, some groups criticised this upcoming bill. One channel on X(formerly Twitter) wrote "California Democrat Senator Alex Padilla is introducing a bill that would allow some illegal migrants to apply for green cards if they have lived in the U.S. for at least 7 years — regardless of how they came. Is that fair to legal immigrants?"
According to a Times of India report, the immigration enforcement practices of the Trump administration are known to be "indiscriminate".
When and Who Will Table The Bill?
Next week, in the US Senate, the bill will be tabled. Immigration experts are doubtful about its passage. With Representative Zoe Lofgren leading the House version, Senator Dick Durbin will co-sponsor the bill in the Senate.
Green Cards To More Than 8 Million People
“This overdue update would provide a much-needed pathway to a green card for more than 8 million people, including Dreamers, forcibly displaced individuals (Temporary Protected Status holders), children of long-term visa holders, essential workers, and highly skilled members of our workforce, such as H-1B visa holders, who have been waiting years for a green card to become available,” says a release from Padilla’s office.
According to the Economic Times, hundreds of Indian nationals are trapped in a lengthy backlog for employment-based green cards. If the bill is enacted, it would support these Indian nationals who are trapped. It would address the issue of family separation due to children 'ageing out' at 21.
David J. Bier's Study Of The Cato Institute
A March 2023 study by David J. Bier of the Cato Institute estimated India’s EB-2 and EB-3 backlog at 10.7 lakh, with around 1.34 lakh children expected to age out before receiving a green card.
