North Carolina, Raleigh—This Thursday, March 9, a Democratic congressional group introduced a plan that could grant permanent residency to the nearly 8 million undocumented people living in the United States.
The proposal is based on the renewal of the Immigration Registry, an instrument which has existed for nearly a century and which grants legal residence based on continuous presence in the country.
If the plan is approved by Democratic Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Norma Torres, Lou Correa, Adriano Espilette, Chuy Garcia and Grace Meng, all undocumented people who have lived in the United States for more than 7 years can apply without interruption. Will be eligible to receive permanent implanted card
“Unlike other initiatives, this time we propose that the immigration register be automatically renewed. This means that there is no fixed date of entry into the country, rather any person who has completed 7 years of residence , may be eligible. For example, if someone has lived in the United States for 6 years and 11 months, he or she will be able to apply for their green card after another month, a member of the Immigrant Human Rights Coalition in Washington said. Explained to Anales Latino NC by telephone from DC (Chirala).
What exactly is a hash registry?
The Immigration Registry is an immigration regulation enacted by Congress in 1929. Its purpose was that people who had lived in the United States for 7 years, and were not permanently barred for criminal or moral reasons, could become legal residents.
In other words, it is a process for immigrants to become lawful permanent residents based on their widespread presence in the United States, regardless of their status or method of entry into the country.
The truth is that the immigration registry was updated in 1940, 1958 and 1986 so that long-term immigrants could exercise the same rights as other citizens. However, it’s been almost 40 years without an update.
This situation has left over 8 million people who have been living in the country for decades completely unsafe.
What are the chances that the immigration register will be updated this year?
There was active participation in activities and meetings in the press conference organized by Chilla around the Capitol.
Despite the huge interest, it is unlikely that it will prevail in a Republican-dominated Congress.
Last session, two immigration-focused bills were introduced in the House of Representatives. The first was the Farm Operations Modernization Act, which sought to create a path to legal status for some undocumented farmers. The second, the American Dream and Promise Act, attempted to establish permanent legal status for “Dreamers”. This is for people who came to the United States as a minor. However, neither began moving forward in the Senate.
Even after plans for immigration reform failed, congressional Democrats were already attempting to update the immigration registry. That initiative was also shelved in 2021.
If last year’s panorama was very encouraging, this season will be even more exciting. Republicans currently control the lower house. It’s unclear whether this new bill will garner enough support. Even in the Senate, the outlook is more uncertain.
Directly trying to give millions without documents
Although the representatives who presented the proposal for the renewal of the immigration register want to turn it into a law, it is true that they already consider it useful to have the question on the agenda.
“It’s part of a larger effort to make sure we all have energy, jobs and the patriotic interests that people who want to be Americans want to be with us,” said Joe Lofgren, of California’s 19th District. The rep and the chief said pro. it is a matter
Ursula Hidalgo, an undocumented woman who lived in the United States for 16 years, reveals her life story in a quest to showcase the work and effort immigrants contribute every day to the country.
“I fled Guatemala due to violence and have lived in the United States for the past 16 years. I am here because as a homemaker I have experienced the fear of home separation firsthand. My husband was deported by immigration officials in 2018 Detained and spent 8 months in jail. My elder son also met the same fate. If Chirla had not acted, my family would have been torn apart and my husband and son certain death,” she narrated in front of the audience , who were listening in respectful silence.
“Although we have found the peace and happiness that the country did not, I cannot live without feeling guilty for locking my children in sleeping cages. Due to lack of status, his dreams were limited.
Hidalgo explained that if the immigration registry update becomes law, it will give her the “peace of mind, freedom and recognition” that she and her family deserve.
human right
Like Hidalgo, Ingrid Vaca, a Bolivian immigrant, has lived in the United States for decades. Iskirko may also be eligible for permanent legal residency if the application is successful.
“It is the human right of every person to feel free in the place where they live. Everyone should be with us, put themselves in our place, so that they understand that we need to live freely”, said Vaka.
Hidalgo and Vaca, Representative Chuy Garcia from Illinois’s 4th District, listened attentively as members of the press attended the conference. “We must give them a way to reach their permanent home and citizenship. They are not aliens. They are our brothers. The people who work, the people who study, the people who care for our children and our grandparents. They are American in their essence. , he concluded.
