US young immigrants bill delayed by senate

(BBC) In the United States, the so-called Dream Act for young immigrants has hit a snag.

The bill, which is backed by President Obama, provides a path to citizenship for thousands of illegal immigrants who went to the US before age 16.

Yvette Clarke
Yvette Clarke

It allows undocumented young people to gain legal status if they enrol in college or join the military.

The bill was passed by the House of Representatives but has been delayed in the Senate, where there is strong Republican opposition.

Caribbean-American Congresswoman Yvette Clarke said the bill provides a solution for immigrant students, whose lives are jeopardised by what she called a broken immigration system in the US.

But critics denounce it as a backdoor amnesty grant.