Democrats Eye Immigration Amnesty in Coronavirus Budget

A large group of Democrats is demanding that the upcoming debate on a nearly $2 trillion coronavirus budget include provisions offering citizenship rights to 5 million illegal immigrants.

The demand, led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and backed by more than 100 lawmakers, throws a new wrinkle into the budget bill {snip}

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The caucus is proposing citizenship for those in the U.S. under the Obama-era DACA program and the temporary protected status designation, and those who can claim to be essential workers.

They calculated that would total 5 million people, which would be the largest legalization, or amnesty, in U.S. history, covering about half the total unauthorized population.

Democratic leaders are eyeing the budget process as a tool to pass Mr. Biden’s bill because it allows them to circumvent the filibuster in the Senate, which is divided 50-50.

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