The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act yesterday with a vote of 237 yes to 187 no. In addition to providing protections and a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants, provide permanet protection and a path to citizenship to Dreamers and people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), H.R.6 also seeks to repeal a restriction that prevents states from providing higher education benefits to undocumented immigrants unless those benefits are available to all U.S. citizens.

Oklahoma's federal representative Kevin Hern was unable to vote because he joined Vice President Pence in his state to tour the flood damage, but said he would have voted “no” on HR-6 because he believes it's dangerous to grant amnesty to millions living in America illegally, including criminals, and it puts more lives in danger at the border. Supporters of the legislation point out that most “dreamers” eligible for protection arrived in the United States at about the age of 8, have grown up and built their lives here.

Proponents also point out that under HR-6, illegals would be eligible for conditional permanent residence if they entered the US before age 18 and have resided in the country continuously for at least four years prior to the bill's enactment, but it also requires that illegals have no criminal convictions, immigration violations, are not national security threats, and have not persecuted anyone based on race, religion, or other factors.

Nine democrats defected because of the costs – According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, it would add more than $30 billion to the deficit. The American Dream and Promise Act passed the House, but it's expected to face more challenge in the Republican-controlled Senate.