Democrats make case to Senate parliamentarian for 8 million green cards

[AZProgressive]

Source: The Hill

Democrats' long-held hopes for providing a path to legal status for millions of immigrants is now in the hands of a little-known figure: The Senate parliamentarian.

Democrats pitched Elizabeth MacDonough, a nonpartisan referee, Friday on their plan to provide permanent legal status, which paves the way for a path to citizenship, for 8 million immigrants, including Dreamers, temporary protected status holders, agricultural and other essential workers.

After struggling for years to get a deal on immigration reform, and with President Biden's sweeping comprehensive plan stalled on Capitol Hill, Democrats are ready to go it alone by including their smaller plan in a sweeping $3.5 trillion social spending bill they hope to pass as soon as this month.

But first, they'll need to convince MacDonough, a former immigration lawyer who has jettisoned key priorities for both parties in budget reconciliation measures in recent years.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/571724-democrats-make-case-to-senate-parliamentarian-for-8-million-green-cards?amp

[ColinC]

1. Unfortunately I don't see her approving it.

But it would be cool if she did!

[FBaggins]

2. This dramatically overstates the power of the parliamentarian

The role is really just an advisor for the presiding officer... who also has essentially zero power over the question if anyone objects (as someone surely would).

The question is whether or not 51 senate votes agree. MacDonough saying that it's ok helps sell the decision to the senators, but certainly doesn't ensure that it will get through.

[PoliticAverse]

3. So they get to blame the parliamentarian for another thing they couldn't pass? n/t

[awesomerwb1]

5. Yeah!

Let me guess....you're blaming the "establishment" Dems for something that requires 60 votes in the senate to pass.


God Bernie rocks! Stolen primary!

[PoliticAverse]

6. This would require only 50 votes to pass - that's the whole point. Read the article. n/t

[awesomerwb1]

9. I did

the actual bill would've required 60 to avoid filibuster. Not the Dems fault.

Do keep up.

[PoliticAverse]

11. Then you didn't understand it. They want to include it in the $ 3.5 trillion bill which will be

passing by reconciliation and thus need only 50 votes. That's the whole point of asking the parliamentarian.

They don't need to ask the parliamentarian about regular bills which are subject to the filibuster.

[AZLD4Candidate]

4. Does it apply to my foreign wife that the US Government denied entry on Feb 27th because

the CBP created new rules because they are without oversight?

How about people like my District Superintendent's foreign wife who was also denied entry to reunite with her American citizen spouse?

Can they get these to, or just Dreamers and the "path to citizenship?"

Or are we okay with the US Government saying doing it legally will separate Americans from their families for 8-16 months because they all need to be "vetted?" Can we to a full immigration reform so Americans and their families are separated by an unaccountable federal agency with no oversight?

[awesomerwb1]

8. Reading comprehension skills fail

Try at least reading about who this would cover first.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

10. I believe the poster you're responding to DOES understand it doesn't cover their own situation

And is displeased about it.

I believe his are what's known as 'rhetorical questions'.

That was my takeaway, not a comprehension fail.

YMMV.

[AZLD4Candidate]

12. Our immigration laws were written by two of the biggest bigots and xenophobes in the Congress in

1952, and both were Democrats.

I am curious if we are going to update the bigoted legal immigration policies are are highly costly, extremely de-humanizing and set up to take a long time and make failure almost inevitable

Most Family Based visas can take between 2-18 years and a lot AGE OUT of the system before they get the interview.

Most Immediate Relative visas can take between 8-24 months. That's 2/3 to two years that families are separated. I'm going on 14 months to get my wife here.

Are we going to address this as well?

[Hugh_Lebowski]

13. Don't tell me, tell the person who was bagging on your comprehension skills

I knew what you meant, I've seen your other posts on this

[AZLD4Candidate]

15. I just did. Thank you, Hugh. I have been rather consistent on this issue

The American government should not be in the business of separating Americans from their foreign spouses. Visas our American's families should be automatic when eligible for the IR1 visa, which is two years of marriage (CR1 before that).

[AZLD4Candidate]

14. Quoting the article:

Democrats pitched Elizabeth MacDonough, a nonpartisan referee, Friday on their plan to provide permanent legal status, which paves the way for a path to citizenship, for 8 million immigrants,including Dreamers, temporary protected status holders, agricultural and other essential worker

My wife of eight years, married 09/12/14, is a Chinese national I met working at the Rape of Nanking museum. We've been separted going on 13 months waiting for her IR1 visa.

The US government should not be in the business of separating families, and my wife does not apply in ANY of the underlined sections. Does her IR1 visa apply so she can get her marriage-based green card? If not, this immigration reform is nothing.

BTW, my district superintendent and his wife have been separated almost seven months now for the same reasons as I have been.

[momta]

18. That seriously sucks.

And I agree that our immigration laws are bigoted and stupid.

Keeping you and your wife in my thoughts.

[monkeyman1]

7. hell , TFG got his internet bride & parent's citizenship overnight ?

[AZLD4Candidate]

16. And they had no problems

Yet my Chinese wife that I dated, engaged, and married the traditional way and I have been separated almost 14 months waiting for processing to happen.

Amazing, huh?

[monkeyman1]

17. the privileged rich can do that ! the ol' double standard at work !

if your a porn star , you get right's , your a commoner , you get paper work up the ass & maybe in 2 week's we'll get too it ! just like republican infrastructure week !
good luck bud !