WASHINGTON – Immigration is a polarizing issue in Washington, but an immigration bill being debated on Capitol Hill has garnered support from members of both parties. The “America’s Children Act” focuses on the more than 250,000 people who began living in the United States as dependent children of parents on work visas.
What you need to know
The “America’s Children Act” will ensure that anyone who was legally brought to the United States as a child, has been here for 10 years and graduated from an American university would have the opportunity to become- se in a permanent and legal resident.
This bill has bipartisan support in both chambers
In the Senate, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., join as co-sponsors
This group is often referred to as documented dreamers. They grew up in the United States with legal status and attended American schools and colleges, but once they turn 21, they may have to self-deport to the countries where they were born.
“As I grew up, I realized that there was something different about the situation I was in compared to my peers,” said Dip Patel, founder of the Improves sleep defense group “They didn’t consider me an American citizen, even though I considered myself one.”
Patel was born in India and came to the United States legally at age 9 when his parents moved their family to southern Illinois.
“They came on a visa that allowed them to start a small business that employs Americans,” Patel explained. “We have truly made our community, our city and our country our home.”
“Unfortunately, there are loopholes in our system where certain visas allow you to be here for an extended period of time, but not have a path to citizenship. Some other visas allow people to be here, but they’re stuck in a long amount of green cards,” Patel said.
According to Improve the Dream, approximately 87% of documented Dreamers are pursuing STEM degrees with plans to work in health fields. Patel, now 27, works as a pharmacist, but stressed there is still uncertainty for him and others who want to become citizens.
“All the resources that were poured into us, we want to contribute to America and stay here,” Patel said.
The “America’s Children Act” will ensure that anyone who was legally brought to the US as a child, has been here for 10 years and graduated from an American university would have the opportunity to become in a permanent and legal resident.
The bill has bipartisan support in both chambers. In the Senate, an unlikely duo of Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., join as co-sponsors.
“This is about correcting a moral evil that is a byproduct of our outdated immigration system,” Padilla said at a news conference.
Paul echoed that claim in an interview with Spectrum News.
“I think I have a lot of sympathy for this particular group of Dreamers because they tried to obey all the rules. They didn’t break any rules to get here,” Paul told Spectrum News.
Paul believes both parties could do a better job when it comes to immigration reform.
“Unfortunately, immigration has struggled for a solution because, and this is my opinion, one part wants all or nothing,” Paul said.
