Could President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans finally take a step forward for illegal immigrants after Democrats failed?
It might be a relatively small step — but it sure would be significant for the not-quite-Americans known as Dreamers.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina could be one of the principal movers. This week, he and two colleagues introduced a bill they call the Succeed Act, which opens a real path toward citizenship for DACA recipients.
DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, was an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in 2012. It provided temporary legal status to young people who came to this country illegally as children, but it did not grant permanent status or provide a way for them to become citizens.
Trump ended the program this month. At the same time, he also “deferred action” for six months, challenging Congress to act.
Trump probably doesn’t want to deport 800,000 DACA recipients. Most Americans don’t, according to polls. That should get the attention of Congress.
The Dreamers are viewed with sympathy because they weren’t responsible for bringing themselves to this country. Yet they’ve been raised here, learned to speak English, finished high school or even college. They’ve gotten jobs, joined the military, married and had children. They are Americans in their loyalties, values, hopes and dreams — but not legally. And, as of now, they have no way to become U.S. citizens.
The Tillis bill, co-sponsored by Republican Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Orrin Hatch of Utah, would change that. It’s one of two such measures that’s emerged in the Senate. The other is bipartisan, introduced by Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Both face the same potential objection from the most conservative Republicans: That it offers “amnesty” to illegal immigrants.
That criticism should be dismissed out of hand. As Lankford said Monday, “We as Americans do not hold children legally accountable for the actions of their parent.”
Individuals who aren’t legally accountable don’t need amnesty. They do need opportunity. This bill grants it.
But it doesn’t set an easy path. Those who were eligible for DACA could apply for conditional permanent resident status, which would require completing a criminal-background check, submitting biometric and biographic data, paying tax liabilities, registering for military selective service and earning a high school diploma or the equivalent.
This status would be good for five years and could be renewed for another five if individuals met other conditions, such as remaining employed, being enrolled in post-secondary education or serving in the military.
After a decade of conditional permanent resident status, the individuals could be granted lawful permanent status. Following another five years, they could apply for citizenship.
It’s a tough climb. Until reaching lawful permanent status, these immigrants could be deported if they strayed from the specified process. For 15 years, at least, they would have to be nearly perfect in how they conducted themselves. They would have to live as if any misstep would cost them their homes and their hopes.
Perhaps there’s room for legislative compromise. Portions of the Graham-Durbin bill might be more palatable to a Senate majority. An immigration bill likely needs bipartisan support. But a bill must pass to spare Dreamers from being uprooted and cast out of their country.
So, what reason can there be not to create the same opportunity for other long-time, law-abiding — but illegal — immigrants? Anyone who could complete such a taxing 15-year test would make an exemplary citizen of this country.
But one step at a time. At least Tillis and others are moving in the right direction.
