The Senate resumed debates on the immigration reform bill on June 4, and it expects to pass a comprehensive bill by the end of this week. Here are the most recent updates as of June 5, 2007:
- Grassley Amendment (SA 1166) broadens the restriction on judicial review of visa revocations by abolishing judicial review on visa revocations made by the Secretary of State. Currently, judicial review of visa revocation is already severely restricted. Agreed to by unanimous consent on 6/4/07
- Allard Amendment (SA 1189) to remove the supplemental schedule for merit-based points for Z visa holders that gives credit for past employment, home ownership and having medical insurance when applying for green cards. In essence would eliminate the majority of Z visa holders from eventually obtaining permanent residence status. Failed by vote of 62-31 on 6/5/07
- Durbin-Grassley (SA 1231) to require all employers seeking a Y worker to first attempt to recruit US workers. Passed 71-22 on 6/5/07A 116
The Senate has introduced more than 100 amendments to the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348.) Below is a compilation of pending amendments that could fundamentally affect the immigrant population and future immigration policy in the United States. They are likely to be debated from June 5-8th, 2007. We urge you to call your senators to encourage their taking on a proactive role on the provisions outlined below. Please ask your senators to vote positively on the following issues!
SA 1138
Clinton/Hagel/Menedez Amendment
This amendment would allow the spouses and children of LPR (Lawful Permanent Residents) or green card holders to be classified as immediate relatives. The current laws, as well as S. 1348, both limit the number of green cards given to spouses/children of Permanent Residents to 87,900. Such circumstances and stringent rules have caused a backlog of over 1 million family members who are waiting for their green cards for as long as 10 years or more. SA 1138 would re-categorize the affected relatives and thus eliminate the backlogs that are keeping families apart. We support this amendment because we believe in the U.S. priding itself on welcoming newcomers and protecting families.
SA 1191
Lieberman Amendment
This amendment targets negligent asylum procedures while also calls for the improvement of the conditions of detention for asylum seekers by calling to implementation the key recommendations of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. This amendment advocates reform measures that are practical and safeguards the nation’s security, and also improve the efficacy of our system, ensuring that asylum seekers are treated in accordance with our nation’s basic values.
SA 1199
Dodd/Menendez Amendment
This amendment would alleviate the provisions in S. 1348 that makes it more difficult for the parents of U.S. citizens to obtain a visa. S. 1348 subjects parents to a 40,000 cap; this amendment retains the restrictions but would raise the annual cap to 90,000 while also extending the permissible duration of stay for parents who visit on the newly created temporary visas.
SA 1194
Menendez/Hagel Amendment
This amendment extends the date for applications eligible for back-log reduction green cards from May 1, 2005 to January 1, 2007 to ensure that the entire family backlog already in line to become legal permanent residents will be addressed. According the “grand bargain” as is, the current bill would only address the backlog for cases filed before May 1, 2005. Furthermore, it calls for increased quotas in all categories (family based, employment based, and asylum/refugee) of green cards set aside for back-log reduction.
SA 1249
Cantwell/Cornyn Amendment
This amendment establishes a parallel and complementary employer-sponsored merit-based program allowing employers to continue to sponsor specific individuals for permanent residency. This would provide 140,000 visas that are separate and in addition to those currently in S. 1348.
SA 1202
Obama/Menendez Amendment
This amendment phases out the point system established by S. 1348 after five years of experimental implementation. Basically, the points-system in S. 1348 reorients immigration to the U.S. completely, diverting away from the traditional emphasis on family-based and employment-based immigration in favor of a merit-based system. This bill will allow the country to use the point-based system for the next 5 years and then revert back to the family and employment based immigration system we are accustomed to. This amendment deals with the radical and experimental characteristics of S. 1348.
Note:
In the past several years, the immigration reform has been a hot legislative issue. Now, it comes to a critical crossroad. Many aliens in the U.S. have been adversely affected by the visa bulletin retrogression, H-1B cap crisis, and other immigration legal problems. Although politicians are debating on all of these immigration issues in Congress, significant progress cannot be achieved without involvement from the numerous immigrants in the U.S., including many of our readers. So, we encourage you let your voice heard by the legislators by contacting Congressman. We have established an online system to help you contact Congress. Please click on the following link to see more immigration reform updates and contact Congressman through our online advocacy system.
http://www.hooyou.com/advocacy/index.html
In addition, the immigration reform bill must be approved by the House and Senate, and then signed by the President to become a law. The full implementation of the new immigration law needs at least one year, as border security must be enforced at first. There is still uncertainty about the passage and implementation of the new immigration bill. So, we suggest you submit your immigration petition now by whatever venue available to you at the current situation. The earlier, the better, that’s the thumb up rule in immigration applications.
(06/06/2007)
Refer this page to a friend
