WASHINGTON – Two Texas Democrats from the border announced Tuesday that they will sign on to a petition designed to force Congress to take up legislation addressing Dreamers, or young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children.

The announcements by U.S. Reps. Filemon Vela and Vicente Gonzalez bring the backers of the petition within striking distance of the 218 majority they need to force a series of immigration votes on the House floor.

Until now, Vela and Gonzalez had held back from the bipartisan petition over concerns it could lead to passage of a bill that trades border wall construction for legal protections for Dreamers, the name adopted by beneficiaries of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

They were among only three Texas Democrats who have not signed the so-called "discharge petition." The other is Laredo Democrat Henry Cuellar, who also opposes President Donald Trump's call for a border wall.

Among the leaders of the petition effort is San Antonio Republican Will Hurd, whose heavily Latino district encompasses about 800 miles of the border in West Texas.

The petition, if successful, would bypass the House Republican leadership and force a series of votes on series of immigration measures, from a restrictive bill funding the wall and offering only renewable visas to Dreamers, to the so-called Dream Act, which would afford them a path to citizenship. The plan with the most votes in a "queen of the hill" process would move on to an uncertain fate in the Senate.

Vela, of Brownsville, said his change of mind came after consulting with local clergy in his district. "I have decided to sign the discharge petition so that Dreamers can get the vote they are requesting," he said. "I will vote for a clean Dream Act, but not for any measure that includes border wall funding."

Gonzalez, of Mercedes, also expressed concerns that the potential vote series could lead to a plan "to hold Dreamers hostage in exchange for a border wall."

The two lawmakers' decision brings petition organizers just three votes short of the 218 needed, adding pressure on GOP leaders who have been trying to forge an immigration compromise between conservatives and moderates that would pass muster with the White House.

Republicans, some hoping to avoid and election-year showdown on immigration, are expected to huddle on Thursday to forge a path forward ahead of a possible vote later in June.

Cuellar, meanwhile, said Tuesday he could only support the petition if Democratic leaders vow to hold out against funding for a border wall.

"I need a commitment from Democratic leadership saying that they will not support a border wall in exchange for Dreamers," he said. "My support for Dreamers and a DACA fix has not wavered, but there are more cost-efficient ways of protecting our borders by increasing technology and employing additional border security personnel."

Related content: 'Dreamer' petition could force DACA vote on House floor

Kevin Diaz is the Chronicle's Washington Bureau Chief, covering issues important to Texas from the White House, the Supreme Court and Capitol Hill. Follow him on twitter at @DiazChron and send him tips at Kevin.Diaz@chron.com