Overview
The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform includes support for the U.S. Citizenship Act, a bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants, allowing them to obtain identification, Social Security numbers, and even the right to vote and serve in the U.S. military. This proposed legislation, which lacks bipartisan support, raises questions about its potential impact on immigration law and national security.
Why It Matters
This legislation could fundamentally alter the U.S. immigration system, impacting the nation’s economic and social structures, as well as national security.
Who It Impacts
The bill would affect millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S., as well as American citizens who face the economic, security, and societal consequences of these changes.
The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform has officially endorsed the U.S. Citizenship Act, a bill aimed at creating a pathway for millions of illegal immigrants to obtain lawful permanent residency in the United States. The proposed legislation would allow these immigrants to be classified as “lawful prospective immigrants,” a new status that would provide them with identification cards and Social Security numbers. Those who meet certain criteria could even gain the right to vote and serve in the U.S. military.
This controversial bill is being championed by Democrats as an overdue reform to the country’s outdated immigration system. The platform claims that the current framework, last revised in 1990, no longer reflects the realities of the 21st century. “The U.S. Citizenship Act would permanently increase family-sponsored and employment-based immigration,” reads the platform’s “Expanding Legal Immigration & Deterring Illegal Immigration” section.
Under the provisions of the 352-page U.S. Citizenship Act, illegal immigrants who have lived in the country for five years without any prolonged absences would be eligible to adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent resident. The bill also opens the door for deported immigrants to return to the United States if they had previously lived in the country for at least three years before being deported.
Critics of the bill argue that it is essentially a sweeping amnesty measure. The U.S. Citizenship Act would apply to nearly all of the estimated 10 million illegal immigrants currently living in the United States. Additionally, it outlines very few crimes that would bar an immigrant from becoming a permanent resident. An immigrant would still qualify for reclassification so long as they had not committed a felony in the past decade or incurred more than three misdemeanors in the past five years. Even immigration-related felonies, marijuana offenses, or civil disobedience crimes would not disqualify individuals.
The bill goes even further by offering alternatives to detention for individuals caught crossing the border illegally after the bill’s enactment. Instead of facing jail time, these individuals would be provided “community support” services. Additionally, businesses would be prohibited from considering a job applicant’s citizenship status, with significant financial penalties imposed on companies accused of discrimination.
Another key component of the bill provides that immigrants who entered the U.S. as minors—commonly known as DACA recipients—could automatically be reclassified as permanent residents. These individuals would be eligible to work in federal institutions, including Congress, and could apply for federally-backed mortgages. The bill also calls for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for border agents and immigration judges, and it mandates that the federal government provide lawyers to illegal immigrants facing legal proceedings.
The proposal has sparked significant debate, particularly because it lacks Republican support. Many argue that this bill would incentivize further illegal immigration while eroding the integrity of the nation’s immigration system. The bill’s provisions also raise concerns about national security, given that only a limited set of criminal offenses would disqualify immigrants from gaining lawful status. Proponents of the bill argue that it modernizes an outdated system and provides much-needed reforms to protect immigrant families and workers.
This proposed legislation introduces sweeping changes to immigration policy, but its impact would extend far beyond just the immigrant population. Granting millions of illegal immigrants the right to vote and serve in the military could have lasting consequences on the political and social fabric of the country. Additionally, weakening the enforcement of immigration laws could lead to more illegal crossings and a diminished capacity to control the nation’s borders. These changes could impose significant economic and security challenges on American citizens, who ultimately bear the responsibility for maintaining a stable and lawful society.
