Group of Young Immigrants Seeks a Direct Path to Citizenship for All, Regardless of Age
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Version 0 of 1. A national organization of young immigrants said Wednesday that it would press for a “direct and straightforward” seven-year pathway to citizenship for all 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, and would not support measures that only offered citizenship to young people brought to the United States as children. Leaders of the organization, the United We Dream network, issued 20 principles they would push for in the debate over an overhaul of the immigration laws, which is rapidly gathering speed in Washington. The young immigrants, who call themselves Dreamers, rejected proposals that would tie their progress toward citizenship to measurements of border security. They said any legislation should allow foreign-born partners in same-sex couples to gain residency. The network, which includes youth groups in 24 states, weighed in after President Obama and a bipartisan group of senators last week announced their blueprints for the overhaul, which included differing proposals for a pathway to citizenship for most illegal immigrants already here. The senators’ blueprint does not specify the length of time before those gaining legal status could become citizens, but it is likely to be considerably longer than seven years. Under the senators’ proposal, citizenship would also be contingent on an assessment of border security. At a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, Republicans suggested they were seeking an approach offering legal status to immigrants who lack it, but not an opportunity to become citizens. The young immigrants said they would oppose such measures. “Those in Congress who offer a never-ending second-class status will find that we found those proposals offensive and unacceptable,” said Lorella Praeli, a leader of the network. The network includes youths here illegally as well as a growing number who received deportation reprieves under a program Mr. Obama started last year. A campaign of street protests young immigrants organized helped to persuade the White House to offer the reprieves. During the House hearing, 13 members of the network briefly stood up shouting “undocumented and unafraid” before being escorted out by security guards. Under the network’s proposal, illegal immigrants would be eligible for a provisional status as soon as any overhaul legislation went into effect. After two years, they would be allowed to apply for permanent resident documents known as green cards. Under current law, permanent residents are allowed to naturalize as citizens after five years. The youths and other Latino and immigrant leaders pressed Mr. Obama in a meeting on Tuesday to halt deportations during the debate. |