President Joe Biden's $1.8 trillion social spending plan has been on hold since last month as Democrats at all levels of power acknowledged the fact that a Senate vote was not possible within the timeframe they had set for before Christmas.

According to the US News publication, Democrats have yet to win the support of Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema for the bill to pass. “Because they’ll try to pass the social safety net package under budget reconciliation rules, Democrats can move it forward with only a simple majority – meaning universal support from their Caucus – instead of the usual 60 votes to overcome filibusters”. Despite pressure to finish work before Christmas, the decision to stop it was strategic in the sense that Democrats strive for some commitment from the opposition this month.

With Senator Joe Manchin's refusal to support the Build Back Better Act, the chances of Republicans regaining control of the House of Representatives, and possibly also the Senate, seems likely.

“If Democrats cannot pass Biden’s signature legislation, which includes massive investments in childcare, healthcare and climate initiatives, their failure may convince enough voters to support Republicans in November. However, if Democrats try to move forward with a version of the bill that Manchin supports, as some strategists have suggested, the final product may not be as attractive to voters”, according to “The Guardian”.

One of the initiatives of the broader project seeks to address the social exclusion of millions of undocumented immigrants in the country. The issue of immigration is sensitive to Democrats who, during the presidential campaign, promised to pave the way to grant citizenship to immigrants.

However, according to the opinion article published by Latino Rebels, “immigration reform, not mere temporary work permits, is overdue and needed for those living in the shadows while working in this country as undocumented. It’s essential for day-to-day living free of fear and with dignity. It is also urgently needed as a long-term solution to labor shortages amid a supply-chain crisis, and for workers in agriculture, construction, factory work, and other high-risk work to not only have access to basic work safety conditions, protections, basic health coverage, and fair pay, but also have a path to legal residency”.

Also according to the publication, “the last time the U.S. approved any form of immigrant relief was nearly 36 years ago – the Immigration Reform and Control Act signed by President Reagan in November 1986 – and that reform was meant for Latinos who met specific requirements”. 

Based on an article produced by the “Oakland Museum of California”, the publication reports that in 1957, over 192,000 workers were taken to California and over 150,000 other workers to other parts of the country.

“Undocumented migrant labor continues to support the U.S. to this day, more visible during the current COVID pandemic where essential workers, many of them undocumented, aren’t paid nearly enough for risking their lives on a daily basis. Congress should enact full immigration reform not only for essential workers like those in agriculture and the medical field, but also those in construction, the food industry, and more, all of whom are crucial in sustaining and even strengthening the nation’s economy. This makes immigration reform not only the right thing to do, but the practical, smart thing to do”.

Despite the drag on negotiations on the Build Back Better Act, Democrats still promise to create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally as part of their social expenses planning.