2018: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Providing A Pathway To Citizenship For DACA Recipients. In June 2018, Schweikert effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "replace[d] the bill's provisions with a system that would provide a pathway to citizenship for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program." The underlying legislation was a conservative immigration reform bill. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 191 to 234. [House Vote 281, 6/21/18; Congressional Quarterly, 6/21/18; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4760]
2019: Schweikert Voted Against Granting Citizenship To Dreamers And Individuals Living In The U.S. Under The Temporary Protected Status And Deferred Enforced Departure Programs. In June 2019, Schweikert voted against the American Dream and Promise Act that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide legal residency status for certain undocumented immigrants who entered the United States as children or from nations with Temporary Protected Status designation and would prohibit the Homeland Security and Justice Departments from initiating or continuing the removal of such individuals." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 237-187. The House passed the bill by a vote of 237-187. [House Vote 240, 6/4/19; Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/19; Congressional Actions, H.R.6]
The American Dream And Promise Acts Created A Pathway To Citizenship For Several Groups Of Legal Residents. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The legislation would provide legal status and a path to citizenship for undocumented adults who were brought to the United States as children by their undocumented parents, and who are colloquially known as Dreamers. It also grants legal status to people living in the United States under the Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure programs. Under the measure, if Dreamers, TPS and DED holders meet certain education, employment or military service requirements they could become permanent legal residents after which they could proceed through the naturalization process to become U.S. citizens." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/19]
Center For American Progress: Over 2.5 Million Immigrants Would Be Eligible For Citizenship. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The Center for American Progress, in partnership with the University of Southern California's Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration issued a report that estimated 2.1 million immigrants would be eligible under the measure for Dreamers and 460,000 immigrants would be eligible under the measures for TPS and DED recipients. More than 300,000 people with TPS protections live in the United States from 10 countries including Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Syria. The DED program protects about 4,000 Liberian immigrants in the United States." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/19]
The Trump Administration Rebuked The Bill, Stating It Would "Incentivize And Reward Illegal Immigration." According to Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans assailed the bill, stating it would encourage more migrants to come to the U.S.-Mexico border, which is experiencing a huge influx of people from Central America [...] The Trump administration issued a statement earlier Tuesday threatening to veto the bill if it advances out of the Senate. 'H.R. 6 would incentivize and reward illegal immigration while ignoring and undermining key administration immigration objectives and policy priorities, such as protecting our communities and defending our borders,' the Office of Budget and Management said in a statement." [Congressional Quarterly, 6/4/19]