There are a couple of bipartisan immigration negotiations currently happening on Capitol Hill, but with the end of the year quickly approaching, lawmakers and advocates are questioning whether a deal can be reached.
Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have outlined a potential immigration proposal that would provide a path to legalization for 2 million undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, known as “dreamers,” in exchange for at least $25 billion in increased funding for the Border Patrol and border security. It would also extend the Title 42 rule allowing the immediate expulsion of migrants for another year until more infrastructure could be put in place.
Separately, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) are working on a narrower bill based on a House-passed measure that provided a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented farmworkers.
There is pressure on Congress to pass immigration reform this year, particularly after a court ruling that could end the DACA program came down in October, but news sources are reporting that many lawmakers have doubts about these proposals, especially as no details have been shared beyond the basic frameworks. With many competing priorities and time running out, it’s becoming increasingly uncertain that a comprehensive proposal will come together this year.
