OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The hopes of millions of immigrants wanting a pathway to citizenship were dealt a huge blow after Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled against Democrats in their attempt to include immigration reform in the $3.7 trillion reconciliation bill.
In her guidance, MacDonough said it didn’t meet the strict rules on what could be in the spending bill and called it “by any standard a broad, new immigration policy.”
Cecilia Gonzalez, an organizer for Mi Vecino Florida and a TPS holder from Venezuela, said she was disappointed by the decision.
What You Need To Know
- Senate official: No immigration reform in infrastructure deal
- A Venezuelan in Osceola says she is heartbroken
- Cecilia Gonzalez said she will reach out to Congressional leaders
- Gonzalez said the decision hurts millions of hopeful immigrants
The inclusion of immigration reform in the bill would’ve provided a pathway to citizenship for Temporary Protective Status holders, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients and fieldworkers or immigrants deemed essential workers.
“I’m essentially heartbroken that one person can make the decision for millions of hard-working people in this nation,” she said.
Gonzalez, who in her work for the nonprofit Mi Vecino Florida registers people to vote, said she will now reach out to Florida leaders in Congress to pass a new immigration reform bill.
“As for what I can do on my side, I can still organize my community, keep pushing senators that we do need a pathway to citizenship,” she said. “We need a long-term solution for millions of immigrants.”
Currently as written, the reconciliation bill includes free community college, universal preschool, an extended Child Tax Credit and more investments in clean energy.