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The Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act Pass the House

On March 18, 2021, the House of Representatives passed both the Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. These immigration bills, if passed by the Senate, could be a huge step in the reform process for immigration law in America — and give hope to millions of immigrants and their families. These bills create a pathway to citizenship for many immigrants, both documented and undocumented.

Read on to learn more about the Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and what the passing of each would mean for immigrants in America as well as immigration law in general. If you have any further questions about either of these bills or anything else immigration law-related, the team at Zohar Law PLLC in Manhattan is here to help. We speak English, Hebrew, Spanish, and Arabic. Reach out to us today to learn more.

The Dream and Promise Act

The Dream and Promise Act, if passed, would create a clear pathway to citizenship for many who are present in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).

This bill would provide current, former, and future undocumented high school graduates and GED recipients a way to earn permanent resident status, and eventually citizenship through the naturalization process.

In order to be eligible for the three-step process to citizenship under the Dream and Promise Act, the individual would need to have completed two years in college, two years in the armed forces, or three years of employment in the United States. After meeting this and other eligibility requirements, the individual would be able to apply for conditional permanent residence status. Once that status is maintained for a certain amount of time, they can apply to become a lawful permanent resident and receive their green card. After holding a green card for five years, the individual would be eligible to apply for citizenship through the naturalization process that is already in place.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, if passed, would create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented farm workers as well as their spouses and children. Much of the farm work that is provides America with our food supply is completed by Mexican men, some of which are here under the H-2A visa while others are undocumented. Because the workers are not citizens, they don’t have access to common workplace protections, which is one of the things that this bill aims to change.

Under this bill, farm workers would be eligible to apply for temporary status as a Certified Agricultural Worker. In order to apply for this status, they must be able to prove that they have worked for at least 180 days in agriculture in the U.S. within the past two years. This temporary status would also be available for the worker’s immediate family.

The immigrant workers would then be required to pay a $1,000 fine and complete additional agriculture work. After this period, they would be eligible to apply for permanent resident status and receive their green card. Once an individual holds their green card for five years, they become eligible to apply for citizenship through the naturalization process.

In addition to this pathway to citizenship, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act would also help to streamline the H-2A visa process.

What this Means for Immigration Law

These two bills are a big step forward for immigration law and the immigration reform that was promised by the Biden Administration. While the bills still have to be voted on by the Senate, if passed, they would help to create a clear pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants currently in the United States. We look forward with the hope that these bills and others like them will be passed so that we can begin to see some real reform in immigration law.

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Receive a Free Consultation From Zohar Law

The team at Zohar Law in PLLC in Manhattan is here to assist you with all of your immigration law needs. Whether you are in need of legal representation and advice while applying for your green card, a deportation defense, or to learn more about either of these new bills, we are here to help. Our immigration law team is dedicated to providing individuals and families with the quality representation that they deserve. Contact us today and we’ll get you started with a free 15-minute consultation.

Source:

https://immigrationimpact.com/2021/03/18/dream-promise-act-farm-workforce-modernization-act/#.YFiVlq9KiUl