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Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), who has unsuccessfully sought to raise the cap and to expand U visas to include victims of labor exploitation, said her Republican colleagues did a disservice to "immigrants who bravely speak out."

Where you're from can determine a lot about you, like if you speak with an accent or say "pop" instead of "soda." But location should not dictate your rights. Our basic freedoms do not know state or city borders, and do not change as you move around the country. That is, unless you are a woman.

Speaking before the House vote, and calling the amendments "toxic" and "cruel," Congresswoman Judy Chu accused Republicans of playing games. "Republicans know this will not become law, so today's debate only serves to placate an extreme wing of their party while making millions of hardworking and aspiring Americans afraid and unsettled," said Chu.

"This bill will finally put us on the offensive," Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said in a conference call Wednesday announcing the bill.

An article about the 114th United States Congress.

Getting a major new immigration initiative up and running in less than two months is a challenge. But much of the policy will be built on an existing program. Chu confirmed reports that the president would be expanding DACA to adults with the overarching goal making sure "that it is felons deported, not families." Altogether, an estimated 4 million to 5 million people could be affected, Chu said.

Obama "was very serious about his commitment to immigration reform," Chu said after the dinner, where attendees ate fennel salad and a beef main course. "He said that there were those that said he should wait until after the budget bill … but he just felt that he owed it to all of those who have been waiting all this time to do something."

"Basically, giving them a way to earn their legal status," Chu said, noting that the change could affect nearly 4 million people already living in the United States. "It's not a green card, but they can get a work permit."