An Earned Pathway to Citizenship May Be the Only Way to Assimilate

• Author: Mary Singleton
• Posted: 2024-08-01

As President Obama has said, the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants should be long enough to process all the information and hard enough to be treasured. In other words, it should be a lottery, but for American citizens. The Dreamers and the essential workers of our country are proud patriotic Dreamers, but how do they gain citizenship? An earned pathway to US citizenship may be the answer to both questions. Read on to find out more about the benefits of citizenship by choice.

An earned pathway to citizenship
An earned pathway to citizenship is a better alternative to citizenship by birthright. In Maine, 68% of voters support a pathway to citizenship for those undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, were victims of war or natural disasters, or were essential workers for the state's economy. In the same poll, under a third of likely voters say they would not support the proposed pathway.

While an earned pathway to citizenship is not the only option, it is a good compromise. The path to citizenship would give a green card to undocumented immigrants after three years of legal status. If they meet certain requirements, such as proving employment history, they could apply for citizenship. Farmworkers who can provide a work history and have DACA protection will be able to skip the five-year requirement. This plan, however, must be passed in the Senate. It would require the votes of 10 Republicans in the Senate to proceed to a vote.

Despite the challenges that undocumented immigrants face, the benefits of gaining citizenship are real. And the legislation enacted by President Obama is delivering on those promises. The economic prosperity that a pathway to citizenship provides for undocumented immigrants will not only improve their lives but also have multiplier effects on local communities, states, and the U.S. as a whole. This is a win-win solution for everyone.

According to a Data for Progress survey of 1,245 likely voters, the bill's passage is likely to lead to a renewed debate over the definition of the term "amnesty." Moreover, the bill is unlikely to pass unless a majority of Democrats and independents support it. It is also likely to face opposition from the right. This bill will have a positive impact on the undocumented community.

A pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants is not universal. While the House version of the bill would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and farmworkers, it does not include any specific definition of what is required to become a citizen. The bill does, however, make provision for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented aliens, and it also states that it supports the path to citizenship for TPS holders, TPS recipients, and essential workers.