Immigration bills passed in the House face uncertain fate in the Senate

Washington — The House approved two wide-ranging immigration bills on Thursday which would allow more than 4 million undocumented immigrants to gain U.S. citizenship, including farmworkers and individuals who entered the country as children.

But the bills' prospects in the Senate are far from certain. Democrats have the narrowest possible majority in the Senate with 50 seats, and most legislation requires 60 votes to advance. It is unclear whether either of these bills will garner support from at least 10 Republicans. The American Dream and Promise Act passed in the House by a vote of 228 to 197, with nine Republicans joining all Democrats in supporting it. The measure would allow more than 3.4 million "Dreamers," or unauthorized immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors, as well as beneficiaries of certain temporary humanitarian programs, to gain permanent legal status. The bill would also allow children of temporary U.S. work visa holders trapped in the backlogged employment-based green card process to adjust their status.