US House passes 2 bills to establish path to citizenship for millions

As Democrats assess their chances of passing immigration legislation and submitting it to President Biden's desk, the U.S. House passed two bills on Thursday that would legalize subsets of the estimated 11 million immigrants residing in the United States without legal authorization.

Both House Democrats voted to support the American Dream and Promise Act, which passed by a vote of 228 to 197, with nine Republicans joining them. More than 2.3 million "Dreamers," or undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as minors, as well as beneficiaries of some temporary humanitarian services, will be able to obtain permanent legal status and ultimately citizenship under the plan.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which will give legal rights to hundreds of thousands of farmworkers residing in the United States without permission, was also passed by the Democratic-led House 247 to 174. Thirty Republicans supported the measure, while one Democrat opposed it.