WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Democrats in the US Congress suffered a major setback on Thursday (Dec 16) in their effort to grant work permits to millions of immigrants who have been living in the United States illegally for a decade or longer.
Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who advises lawmakers on what is acceptable under legislature rules, rejected the inclusion of the Democrats' proposal in President Joe Biden's US$1.75 trillion (S$2.4 trillion) Build Back Better Bill.
Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, told reporters that he was "disappointed and we're considering what options remain".
The parliamentarian previously rejected two other Democratic attempts to bundle immigration provisions into Mr Biden's domestic investment Bill.
Ms MacDonough rejected the proposal on Thursday saying it would increase the deficit by US$131 billion over 10 years and included "substantial policy changes with lasting effects", which had already been considered and thrown out before, according to the text of the decision sent to lawmakers.
Her decision could shut the door on Democrats' hopes of passing immigration reform any time soon, since it could be even more difficult to pass a Bill next year as lawmakers shift attention to their November 2022 re-election campaigns.
And if Republicans win control of the House or Senate in those contests, any easing of immigration policy could be on the back burner for years to come.
With immigration legislation now less likely, Democrats and advocates could shift their focus to pressing Mr Biden to address immigration policy through executive actions.
Democrats passed Mr Biden's Build Back Better Bill in the House of Representatives in November, amid Republican opposition, and aim to do the same in the Senate.
The House version of the Biden spending package included several immigration measures, including the work permit provision granting a five-year renewable "parole" to immigrants living in the US illegally since at least 2011.
The liberal Centre for American Progress think-tank estimated that seven million immigrants would be eligible for the temporary protection against deportation and work permits under the Democrats' plan.
Republicans have criticised Mr Biden for undoing some restrictive immigration policies of former president Donald Trump and have opposed Democratic efforts to pass broader immigration legislation.
