The Senate's bipartisan immigration reform bill is finally official. Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York filed the bill on behalf of the "Gang of Eight," the group of Republicans and Democrats who have been working on the bill for months.
While many of the details may well change during debate that could take another several months, the bill appears in much the same form as we've reported before.
It provides a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country, though they will need to register with the federal government, pay back taxes as well as fines that could amount to thousands of dollars, learn English, and wait for a minimum of 13 years before gaining full citizenship.
They can be eligible for a green card in a minimum of eight years, but they can remain in the country legally before then, a huge change from the current draconian measures that require applicants to return to their countries of origin for a decade, whatever their circumstances.
In addition, only undocumented immigrants who entered the country before 2012 will be eligible. Recent immigrants will be barred from applying for citizenship.
However, in a nod to more conservative elements in Congress, the bill also prevents any of that from happening until border security is increased. "High risk border sectors" must be closed and 90 percent of all those who attempt to cross the border illegally must be sent back.
The bill provides $3 billion in additional funding to improve border fences, increase surveillance and hire new patrols.
The only undocumented immigrants who will be able to move forward with the application process before the border security measures are in place will be Dreamers -- immigrants brought to this country as minors - as well as, thanks to the agricultural industry's hunger for labor, some farm workers.
Check back for more details of the bill as we continue to cover the process.-
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