A handful of House Republicans took the first step Wednesday to force a vote on immigration bills that would provide a pathway to citizenship for so-called Dreamers.

Five GOP lawmakers, led by Florida Rep. Carlos Curbelo, filed a discharge petition, a procedural tool that allows them to bring up legislation for a vote without the consent of House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. The aggressive move comes after months of pleas from several Republicans who want to vote on legislation that would provide permanent citizenship for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.