2021: Schweikert Voted Against Creating A Fast-Track Residency Application Process For Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals Program Recipients. In March 2021, Schweikert voted against the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "require DHS to establish a streamlined residency application process for individuals enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 228-197. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 91, 3/18/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Providing Parole Status To Individuals Who Entered The U.S. Before January 1, 2011, Which Would Allow Them To Remain In The U.S. For A Five Year Period. In November 2021, Schweikert voted against the Build Back Better act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "allow individuals who entered the United States prior to Jan. 1, 2011, to receive a grant of parole allowing them to remain temporarily in the country for a period of five years, but no later than Sept. 30, 2021." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-213. [House Vote 385, 11/19/21; Congressional Quarterly, 11/19/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5376]
The Build Back Better Act Would Grant Work Authorization For Up To 10 Years To Undocumented Immigrants Living In The U.S., Which Would Be An Attempt To Comply With Senate Rules On Reconciliation. According to The Hill, "The latest version of the House's $1.75 trillion social spending package includes immigration provisions that would give up to 10 years of work authorization for undocumented people living in the U.S. --- an effort to comply with Senate rules that have killed two previous plans." [The Hill, 11/3/21]
The Build Back Better Act Would Grant Parole To Undocumented Immigrants Living In The U.S. Prior To 2011, Which Would Allow Them To Reside In The Country For A Five Year Period Until Late 2031, In Lieu Of Providing A Pathway To Citizenship. According to The Hill, "The Build Back Better package released by the House on Wednesday does not provide a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented people already living in the U.S. It instead relies on a process known as parole to waive immigration requirements for five years for those who have been living in the U.S. prior to 2011. Once approved, beneficiaries could apply for a five-year extension, allowing them to stay in the country until the end of 2031." [The Hill, 11/3/21]
The Senate Parliamentarian Previously Ruled Twice That Expansive Immigration Provisions, Including Pathway To Citizenship, Violated Budgetary Rules That Would Permit Passage Without A Republican Filibuster. According to The Hill, "It's a bid to appeal to the Senate parliamentarian, who twice has batted down more expansive immigration proposals, arguing they did not meet the budgetary rules that allow the measure to get around a GOP filibuster." [The Hill, 11/3/21]
The Build Back Better Act Would Include Visas Recapturing, Which Would Preserve Approximately 222,000 Of Unused Family-Based Visas And About 157,000 Employment-Based Visas Susceptible To Lapse Otherwise. According to The Hill, "The bill does include visa recapture, preserving some 222,000 unused family-based visas and roughly 157,000 employment-based visas that would otherwise lapse." [The Hill, 11/3/21]
2021: Schweikert Voted Against Providing Legal Status To Undocumented Immigrants Who Entered The U.S. As Children Or From Countries With Temporary Protected Status Classification And Against Protecting Them From Deportation. In March 2021, Schweikert voted against the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 which 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 228-197. The Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 91, 3/18/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6]
H.R. 6 Would Provide A Pathway To Citizenship For 2.5 Million Undocumented Immigrants, Including Those Who Arrived As Children. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure (HR 6) would open a gateway to citizenship for 2.5 million undocumented immigrants, including those often referred to as Dreamers, according to the bill's sponsors." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
Republicans Opposed The Measure Citing Concerns Over A Potential Increase In Border Crossings. According to Congressional Quarterly, "In the days leading up to its passage, House GOP leaders encouraged members to vote against the measure. Many congressional Republicans took to the floor to argue about the bill's impact on the increasing numbers of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. They said passing legislation that opens a path to citizenship for undocumented workers would encourage more migration." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
Some Republicans Claimed The Bill Would Incentivize Illegal Immigration And Encourage An Infinite Influx Of Foreigners Into The U.S. According to Vox, "Some Republicans have already warned the bill would 'return to the radical left-wing policies that will incentivize illegal immigration and promote an unending flood of foreign nationals into the United States.'" [Vox, 3/18/21]
The Bill Would Provide Applications For Ten-Year Conditional Permanent Residency Status To Undocumented Immigrants That Entered The Country As Children Before January 2021, Who Resided Continuously In The U.S., And Graduated Or Are Enrolled In School, And Exclude Those With A Criminal Record Or Gang History. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Title I of the bill would require DHS and DOJ to grant applications for ten-year conditional permanent residency status to undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. at age 18 or younger prior to Jan. 1, 2021, have lived continuously in the U.S. since that time, and have earned or are enrolled in a program to earn a technical, high school, or postsecondary degree. It would disqualify certain individuals from receiving such a status based on factors including criminal record, gang participation, or other threats to public safety." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
The Bill Would Grant Permanent Residency To Conditional Residents If They Maintain Eligibility For Conditional Residency Status And Meet Education, Military Service Or Employment Qualifications. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would require DHS to grant permanent resident status to conditional residents if they maintain eligibility for conditional residency and meet certain qualifications related to postsecondary education, military service, or employment." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
Undocumented Immigrants Brought Into The Country As Children Would Undergo A Longer Process To Acquire Citizenship Compared To Individuals Under Humanitarian Protections. According to Vox, "DREAMers --- undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children --- would face a longer path to eventual citizenship." [Vox, 3/18/21]
The Conditional Permanent Residency, Which Would Grant Work Authorization, Would Last For A Decade Before The Individual May Apply For Citizenship. According to Vox, "This 'conditional status' designation would last for 10 years before they could apply for citizenship, but they would be allowed to work in the meantime." [Vox, 3/18/21]
DREAMers May Qualify For Permanent Residency If They Serve In The Military For Two Years, Work For Three Years, Or Graduate From A Higher Education Institution. According to Vox, "There would be other ways for DREAMers to be able to apply for a green card at any time, including serving in the military for two years, working for three years, or getting a degree from a higher education institution (or be at least two years through a bachelor's or technical program)." [Vox, 3/18/21]
The Bill Would Establish A Grant Program For Non-Profits To Help Those Eligible With Their Applications. According to Congressional Quarterly, "require DHS to establish a grant program for nonprofit organizations to assist eligible individuals in the application process." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
The Bill Would Provide For Administrative And Judicial Review For Individuals Whose Application May Be Denied Or Status Revoked. According to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for judicial and administrative review for individuals whose residency status is denied or revoked." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
The Bill Barred The Department Of Homeland Security From Deporting Individuals Who May Qualify For Residency Status Under The Bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit DHS from removing individuals who appear eligible for residency status under the bill's provisions before providing them an opportunity to apply for residency." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
The Bill Provided Applications For Permanent Residency To Immigrants Who Entered The U.S. From Nations Classified Under Temporary Protected Status As Of January 1, 2017 Or Deferred Enforced Departure As Of January 20, 2021. According to Congressional Quarterly, "require DHS and DOJ to grant applications for permanent residency status to foreign nationals from countries designated for Temporary Protected Status as of Jan. 1, 2017, or Deferred Enforced Departure as of Jan. 20, 2021, who have lived continuously in the U.S. for at least three years and are not ineligible for admission under current immigration law." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21]
The Measure Expanded On The DREAM Act By Including Immigrants Under Temporary Protected Status And Deferred Enforced Departure, Which Grant Humanitarian Protections To Individuals From Countries Suffering War, Natural Disasters And Other Extraordinary Conditions. According to Vox, "The Dream and Promise Act is a more expansive version of the mainstay Democratic immigration bill, the DREAM Act. While that bill covered mostly DREAMers, it did not address immigrants covered by Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) --- types of humanitarian protection that allow citizens of countries suffering from natural disaster, armed conflict, or other extraordinary circumstances to live and work in the US free of fear of deportation." [Vox, 3/18/21]
Individuals Covered Under The Temporary Protected Status And Deferred Enforced Departure Would Face A Shorter Route To Gain Legal Status Versus DREAMers. According to Vox, "Humanitarian protectees would face a shorter route." [Vox, 3/18/21]
Humanitarian Protectees Would Be Able To Apply For Permanent Residency If They Have Resided In The U.S. For More Than Three Years And Were Eligible For Temporary Protected Status On September 17, 2017 Or Deferred Enforced Departure Status As Of January 20, 2021, And Would Be Able To Apply For Citizenship After Five Years Of Being Permanent Residents. According to Vox, "These protectees would be allowed to apply for green cards immediately if they have resided in the US for at least three years and were eligible for TPS on September 17, 2017, or had deferred enforced departure status as of January 20, 2021. After five years of holding a green card, they would be able to apply for citizenship." [Vox, 3/18/21]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Immigration Reform To Provide Legal Status To Undocumented Immigrants. In March 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, voted for the "Jordan, R-Ohio, motion to recommit the bill to the House Judiciary Committee." The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 203-216. [House Vote 90, 3/18/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/18/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The American Dream And Promise Act. In March 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "adoption of the rule that would provide for House floor consideration of a joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment (H J Res 17), the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (HR 1620), the American Dream and Promise Act (HR 6) [...] The rule would provide for up to one hour of debate on each of the five measures." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 216-204. [House Vote 79, 3/16/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/16/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 233]
2021: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against The American Dream And Promise Act. In March 2021, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 233) that would provide for House floor consideration of a joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment (H J Res 17), the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (HR 1620), the American Dream and Promise Act (HR 6) [...] The rule would provide for up to one hour of debate on each of the five measures." The vote was on a motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 212-200. [House Vote 78, 3/16/21; Congressional Quarterly, 3/16/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 233]