The U.S. Senate refused to legalize the children of immigrants
The bill was blocked by Republicans. After the vote, Democrats said they intended to reintroduce the document in the Senate, but the publication notes that its chances of passing this year are slim.
Critics of the bill said its consideration was initiated by Democrats to gain support from immigrants from South American countries. At the same time, Republicans were accused of ignoring the interests of thousands of people living illegally in the United States in their pursuit of voter approval.
The bill proposes a way for children of illegal immigrants who came to the United States with their parents to obtain permanent residency. U.S. law does not allow a child brought into the country without documents by illegal immigrant parents to legalize their status.
According to the bill, immigrants who have graduated from a U.S. school, proven themselves to be law-abiding citizens, and lived in the country for at least five years before the law's adoption would receive temporary residency for six years. To obtain permanent residency during that time, they must either graduate from a higher education institution or serve in one of the country's law enforcement agencies.
According to the American Immigration Policy Institute, just over two million people could qualify for permanent residency under the bill. However, the institute notes that due to the complexity of the procedure, no more than 40% of them will likely be able to obtain legal status.
As Lenta.ru notes, the total number of illegal immigrants in the United States, according to official data, is about 12 million people. The majority of illegal immigrants enter the United States from Latin American countries.
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