The House on Thursday passed a bill that would, among other immigration-related policies, provide a pathway for individuals enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to earn lawful permanent residence and American citizenship.
The bill advanced along a near party-line vote of 228-197 — with nine Republicans breaking party ranks to vote in support of the legislation — and faces long odds in the Senate, where leaders on both sides of the aisle have conceded that advancing legislation concerning any tinkering or overhaul of the U.S. immigration system would face long odds at enactment.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) recently told reporters that neither chamber had enough support for a “comprehensive” immigration bill and would instead aim to “deal with discrete elements.” Such an effort could include an attempt to advance the Dream Act, which was included in the bill, H.R. 6 (117), just passed by the House.