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WASHINGTON – (AP) – Democrats cannot use their $ 3.5 trillion package to boost social and climate programs to give millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens, the Senate parliamentarian said on Sunday evening , a blow to what has been the party’s clearest path in years to achieve this long sought-after goal.
The move by Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate’s non-partisan interpreter of its often enigmatic rules, is a damaging and disheartening setback for President Joe Biden, Congressional Democrats, and their allies in pro-immigration and progressive communities. This seriously undermines Democrats’ hopes of unilaterally adopting – against Republican opposition – changes that allow several categories of immigrants to obtain permanent residence and possibly citizenship.
MacDonough’s decision was described by a person briefed on the decision who would only describe her on condition of anonymity.
The parliamentarian ruled that the language of immigration could not be included in a huge bill that was shielded from obstructions by the GOP. Left vulnerable to these deadly delays, which require 60 votes in the Senate to defuse, the immigration provisions barely stand a 50-50 chance in the Senate.
MacDonough rejected democratic language that would have opened a door to citizenship for young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, often referred to as “dreamers”; immigrants with temporary protection status who have fled countries hit by natural disasters or extreme violence; essential workers; and farm workers.
Democrats and their immigration allies have said they will offer alternative approaches to MacDonough that will open the door to permanent status for at least some immigrants. One such approach would be to update a “register” date that would allow some immigrants to the United States at that time to become permanent residents if they meet certain conditions, but it was not clear if they were. would pursue that option or how the parliamentarian would decide.
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