Sen. Ruben Gallego says his plan is unlike his predecessor Kyrsten Sinema’s in that it focuses on more long-term solutions.
“We're going to allow the people that a majority of Americans, the super majority of Americans, think should be allowed to become US citizens,” he said. “And we're also going to do what the majority of Americans believe should be done with a lot of people that are in this country illegally, which is, if you're not a criminal and you have no criminal record and you go through a background check, you will have the opportunity to stay here and be protected from deportation.”
While both plans called for border security investment, asylum reform, expanded pathways for legal immigration, and regional international partnerships and solutions, Gallego’s includes pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and spouses of citizens, as well as work permits for some undocumented immigrants with no criminal background.
Gallego’s office says this is a framework, and he’ll engage colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work on legislation.
