Immigration reform bill passes out of Senate committee

June 08, 2013 (Press-News.org) Immigration reform bill passes out of Senate committee

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The focus on immigration reform is gaining momentum in Congress, as an immigration reform bill recently was passed out of committee in the Senate. The bill was introduced by the so-called Gang of Eight, which includes senators from both sides of the aisle.

The bill -- called the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act -- would provide approximately 11 million immigrants without status in the United States an opportunity to begin the path to citizenship. The fate of the bill is currently unclear, as leaders of the House of Representatives have indicated that its members are also working on a different immigration reform bill.

Gay rights advocates concerned about provision left out of bill

While the bill was considered in the Judiciary Committee, a large number of amendments -- over 300 in total -- were proposed. One of the amendments that was ultimately rejected had wide support among Democrats and gay rights advocates.

The amendment would have allowed same-sex partners of American citizens to obtain a green card, as married couples of different sexes are currently able to do. While many were disappointed with the failure to adopt the amendment in committee, some advocates have expressed a willingness to move forward with the bill as is, with the intention of focusing on the green card provision sometime in the future.

Texas lawmakers will play crucial role in passing the bill

As many would expect, Texas lawmakers in both houses of Congress are playing an important role in the progression of the immigrationreform bill. In fact, two congressional representatives from Texas were part of the Gang of Eight that composed the original bipartisan bill.

While many Texas legislators are in favor of the bill, others have come out in opposition of immigration reform -- an indication of the often-divisive views across the state. Regardless, it is universally recognized that members of the House of Representatives from Texas will have a large influence if the bill comes up for a vote, as Texas is one of the states with the largest number of representatives.

It is only appropriate for Texas lawmakers to take an active role in this legislation, as Texas is home to over 1.5 million immigrants without legal status -- representing around 7 percent of the state's entire population.

Individuals who are living in the United States without legal status can face many challenges, some of which may be alleviated with the passage of the immigration reform bill. For those in such a situation, seeking the counsel of a skilled immigration attorney is a wise step to ensure your rights are protected.