Washington: Lawmakers have moved to reintroduce legislation that would offer immigration relief to children of long-term visa holders, a significant number of whom are of Indian-origin.
California Sen. Alex Padilla reintroduced the America’s Children Act to help thousands of individuals who came to the U.S. as children known as “Documented Dreamers” gain their legal citizenship.
The term Documented Dreamers may be a new term for many, but it refers to foreign nationals who came to the U.S. as dependents under their parents temporary non-immigration status. Under the current immigration law, most of those children will age out of those protections at 21 and will have to self-deport.
Activists for the bill say that it will provide a pathway for those individuals who have built their lives in the U.S. and have begun their educational careers to continue to chase their dreams.
Padilla serves as the chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety. “These Documented Dreamers are Americans in every way except one: their parent’s green card is tied up in red tape,” Padilla said, in a press conference.
Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) and Ami Bera (D-California) are co-sponsors of the legislation in the House of Representatives.
In addition to Padilla, the Senate version of the bill is cosponsored by Senators Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Richard Durbin (D-Illinois), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Angus King (I-Maine), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona)
