What is meant by the phrase Path to Legal Status?
-back to top Again, the Senate bill seeks to provide a path to permanent, lawful residence for many of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants who live, work and pay taxes presently in the U.S. Each legalization process provided in the bill would grant temporary status for a substantial number of years to certain non-U.S. citizens, followed by permanent residence for those who qualify. The Senate Bill provides for different legalization mechanisms depending on the length of time that an undocumented alien has spent in the U.S. Each legalization mechanism provided for in the Bill would provide temporary status for a substantial number of years to certain non-U.S. citizens, followed by permanent residence for those who qualify. The mechanisms would include: (1) earned adjustment for those who have lived and worked in the U.S. since April 5, 2001; (2) deferred mandatory departure (DMD) for those who entered between April 5, 2001 and January 7, 2004. Persons falling into the DMD c
