WASHINGTON, Sept 19 Reuters - Senate Democrats hit a roadblock in their attempt to attach immigration reforms to a $3.5 trillion spending bill after the Senate Parliamentarian ruled against the move, lawmakers said on Sunday.
The Democrats' provision aimed to provide a path to citizenship for so-called Dreamer immigrants brought as children in the United States, protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
On a statement, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats were deeply disappointed in this decision but the fight to provide lawful status for immigrants in budget reconciliation is continuing. Senate Democrats had prepared alternate proposals and aimed to host further meetings with the Senate parliamentarian, he added.
A legislative remedy has become all the more pressing after a June 15th court ruling that struck down DACA, which now protects around 640,000 young immigrants. Until other court proceedings ended, their status was maintained, but new enrollments were halted.
John Paul, the Judiciary Committee's Top Republican, praised the parliamentarian's ruling on Twitter, saying mass amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants isn t a budget issue appropriate for reconciliation. The step would have also allowed immigrants with temporary permanent guardianship and essential workers to seek required permanent status.
Early this year, Sen. Elizabeth MacDonough barred inclusion of a minimum wage hike in COVID - 19 aid bill.
Most bills in the U.S. Senate require 60 of the 100 members to vote for a vote. Budget reconciliation measures, however, can clear the chamber on a simple majority vote, in which case Vice President Kamala Harris could break the tie.
While DACA grants beneficiary benefits to work authorization and access to driver's licenses, as well as, in some cases, better access to financial aid for education, it does not give a path to citizenship.
It protects primarily young Hispanic adults born in Central and South America and brought to Mexico as children by the United States by countries in Mexico.