Democrats' plan on immigration registry rejected by US Senate parliamentarian

Washington, Oct 1 (PTI) US President Joe Biden's ambitious immigration agenda suffered anor blow after a key Senate parliamentarian rejected Democrats' plan that could have created a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants by updating a deces-old immigration registry.

decision is a major setback for Democrats, who have promised to overhaul immigration system as part of ir sweeping USD 3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill to remake American social programmes.

Democrats h pitched parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on legalising millions of undocumented immigrants by making a change to date for when undocumented immigrants within United States can apply to just ir legal status.

immigration registry was created under Registry Act of 1929, which created a process for immigrants to apply for a Green Card.

A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to US as evidence that bearer has been granted privilege of residing permanently.

According to an analysis by FWD.us, changing registry date to 2010 — allowing any migrants who’ve been in country since that date to apply for residency — would make around 6.7 million people eligible for legal permanent residency.

Those who currently qualify for registry must have maintained a continuous presence in United States and were of "good moral character" before January 1, 1972, according to USA Today.

Democrats presented a plan to parliamentarian to change immigration registry date to 2010.

But MacDonough told Democrats that option was a non-starter, Hill reported.

Democrats are pursuing or backup plans with Senate referee, according to a source familiar with Democrats' strategy.

Because of special fast-track procedure, Democrats are using to pass ir social spending bill, all parts must conform to Senate rules.

process, called reconciliation, allows Democrats to pass ir bill with only 50 votes plus tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris.

parliamentarian is arbiter of wher policies comply with rules.

Changing registry date is a "weighty policy change and our analysis of this issue is thus largely same" as for Democrats' previous proposal to provide legal permanent resident status to some immigrants, MacDonough told Democrats in her guidance.

"It's unfortunate. I disagree with her ... but we'll go to Plan C," said Senator Bob Menendez from New Jersey.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin from Illinois said he was “disappointed” in ruling and that it left m with “limited” options.

“[But] it still involved legal permanent residency; we knew we still h a real challenge,” Durbin said about push to get a change in registry date.

Democrats h initially pitched MacDonough on using ir spending bill to provide 8 million green cards to immigrants in four groups: "Dreamers," who came to US illegally as children; temporary protected status (TPS) holders; agricultural workers and or essential workers.

But she rejected that earlier this month, saying that it was "not appropriate" for reconciliation.

Democrats n pitched to MacDonough a change to registry date for certain undocumented immigrants and beneficiaries of humanitarian parole programmes, essentially implementing a statute of limitations for past unauthorised entries.

It currently allows undocumented immigrants who came to United States before 1972 to apply for legal status.

MacDonough's latest ruling immediately renewed calls from outside groups for Democrats to overrule her — something y could do with total unity from ir 50 members plus Vice President Harris presiding over Senate.

When asked about parliamentarian's ruling, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said members of Congress "have indicated that y are committed to getting immigration reform done", USA Today reported.

Congress has struggled to pass immigration reform for deces, with last major reform passed in 1986.

last comprehensive bill, sponsored by a group of bipartisan senators, was brought up in 2013, where it passed in Senate but died in House.

Earlier this year, House passed two bills that would provide a pathway to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a programme that allows undocumented people brought to country as children to stay, and for farmworkers.

Neir bill has been brought up by Senate.

Psaki said that Congress will likely have to look at what or options are available to get immigration reform passed.

"We are committed to getting immigration reform done," she said. "This, I expect, would renew a look for what vehicles and options may be.” PTI NSA AKJ NSA