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Immigrants Hope Registry Saves Immigration Bill

More info on the Registry option:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuarta...h=6d72899aae3b

Quote:

“Registry would help a whole swath of people, and the only criteria would be that the individual entered the U.S. by a particular date and has resided continuously from that date in the U.S.,” said immigration attorney Cyrus Mehta in an interview. “They would be able to apply for adjustment of status, and the government can impose supplemental or super-fees that would generate revenues for the United States. The person must also demonstrate good moral character and certain criminal, smuggling, narcotics law violations and some other grounds of inadmissibility apply. Waivers that exist under the INA [Immigration and Nationality Act] for these grounds of inadmissibility would apply even for an adjustment application under registry.

Quote:

Would the Parliamentarian Allow Registry?: “A simple provision just changing the registry date and adding a sizable fee as a ‘tax penalty’ cannot be stricken by the parliamentarian,” argues Leon Fresco, who formerly worked in the Senate as a staff director for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and a principal advisor to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). “That provision, if the fee is large enough, would actually be the most deficit-reducing measure in the last two decades.”

Others are not as certain the parliamentarian will approve changing the registry date in a reconciliation bill. “It is difficult to say whether the parliamentarian will accept this alternate proposal,” said Cyrus Mehta. “She ought to this time because the Immigration and Nationality Act is not being substantively changed and no new categories are being created under which people may file adjustment of status applications. All that is happening is that the cutoff date will move from January 1, 1972, to a more recent date.”

Another attorney pointed out the parliamentarian did not deny there are financial benefits from including immigration measures in a reconciliation bill, but the parliamentarian stated the inherent benefits of legalization for the individuals are greater. In other words, it was not a cost-benefit analysis but an argument about the cost relative to the benefit, and asserting the benefit [legalization] far exceeds the financial gain. Given that line of argument, it’s not clear whether changing the registry date would meet the parliamentarian’s standard.

Changing the registry date would benefit millions of people. If the date chosen were close to January 1, 2021, it would cover people who have been waiting for their family and employment-based green cards inside the United States. It remains to be seen whether the measure will be included in legislation this year.