An immigration breakthrough that took place on April 11th could result in big changes for undocumented immigrants who are living in the United States, particularly those who work for a living. With four Democrat and four Republican senators agreeing on elements for a bill that will put millions of undocumented immigrants on the path toward gaining US citizenship, this brand new legislation could also, however, stop millions of others from ever being able to achieve that dream.
The bill, which is expected to be unveiled today, will stop anyone who arrived in the United States after December 31st 2011 from being able to put in an application for legal status (and ultimately applying for citizenship) the Associated Press claims. It will also force applicants to offer documented proof that they were in the United States before that date, to have no criminal record and either have proof of employment or enough in the way of financial stability to show that they will not require welfare.
The Washington Post has pointed out that this cut-off date is likely to end up excluding a great number of immigrants, something that is likely prove to be an enormous disappointment to immigrants rights groups that have been hoping that anybody who was in the United States at the time of the bill’s enactment would have been deemed eligible for citizenship.
However, it would seem that the Gang of Eight has no plans to discuss these issues further following months of negotiations.