WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee last week unanimously passed a bill by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, to outlaw deadbeat parents from immigrating to America or obtaining citizenship if they are already here.

"Sadly, there are many in our society who do not honor their child support obligations," said Hatch, chairman of the committee. "Ultimately, it is the children who are hurt by such irresponsibility. Shockingly, many foreign nationals are able to benefit from our immigration laws even though they fail to live up to their child support obligations."

Hatch's bill is called the Parental Responsibility Obligations Met Through Immigration System Enforcement Act — or the PROMISE Act.

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The bill will now be considered by the full Senate.

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