(CNS News) — When asked whether illegal aliens should be given a pathway to citizenship, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said, “people who are here should have a pathway to citizenship.”
She added that it is “not clear” whether President Joe Biden has been successful in dealing with the southwest border crisis.
At the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, CNS News asked the senator, “Should illegal aliens be given a pathway to citizenship?”
Senator Warren said, “I believe that people who are here should have a pathway to citizenship.”
“And does that include illegal aliens?” CNS News asked again.
“I just gave you my position on this, did you not understand?” the senator responded.
In a follow-up question, CNS News asked, “And do you believe that our southwest border is secure now?”
Senator Warren said, “I believe that the Biden administration is trying to deal with the fallout of the chaos that Donald Trump caused down at the border. Whether they have been entirely successful yet or not is not clear.”
Senate Democrats are pursuing a pathway to citizenship for an estimated 8 million illegal aliens, or “undocumented immigrants,” as part of a $3.5 trillion budget resolution aimed at achieving many items on President Joe Biden’s agenda. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said they will act on the resolution before the extended August recess.
As part of the broad economic package, the Senate Judiciary Committee was charged with crafting a $120-billion bill for “making improvements on U.S. ports of entry, clearing out a backlog of visa applications, or other changes,” a Senate Democratic aide working closely on the plan told Bloomberg News. There was no mention of any funds going towards border security.
“Of the 8 million immigrants that Democrats want to aid in the economic package, 3 million would be young, undocumented immigrants known as ‘Dreamers,’ migrant workers, and some with ‘temporary protected status’ because dangerous conditions present risks, if they return to their home countries, the aide said,” according to Bloomberg News. “The other 5 million would be ‘essential workers’ who have yet to be defined.”
This immigration piece apparently is becoming increasingly crucial for the Senate Democrats to secure, as several House Democrats have said they will not support the larger economic package unless it is included.