WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan immigration bill that could be introduced to the Senate next week could exclude thousands of immigrants in the country illegally from eventually becoming U.S. citizens.
A Senate aide with knowledge of the proposals say the bill would bar anyone who arrived in the U.S. after the end of 2011 from applying for legal status. And applicants would have to show they’re financially stable enough to not have to eventually rely on welfare.
The landmark legislation would overhaul legal immigration programs, and require all employers to verify the legal status of their workers. It would greatly boost border security and put many of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally on a path to citizenship.
