Mooers Immigration » Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Senate Set to Begin Immigration Reform Debate; Committee Publishes Report of Bill

Mooers Immigration — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:49:46 +0000

Starting this afternoon (Monday, June 11) on C-Span2, viewers throughout the US and around the world will be able to watch the “World’s Greatest Deliberative Body” – a.k.a. the United States Senate – begin debate on the Immigration Reform bill. The action is expected to begin shortly after 2 PM.

It promises to be a full discussion of the major aspects of Immigration Reform, and could last several weeks (or more) since the Senate will need to consider other pressing business as well (judicial, diplomatic, executive and military confirmations; other bills that have come out of committees; special proclamations; etc.). Getting the Immigration Reform bill passed by the July 4^th holiday is the objective of the bill’s sponsors. Stretching the time is an objective of the bill’s opponents as they try to kill many of the bill’s provisions.

Since there is no play-by-play announcer and most Americans have never had the opportunity to work in the hallowed halls of Congress, much of what happens on the Senate floor is a mystery to viewers. Viewers should not be discouraged, however – there will be many opportunities to listen to Senators debating aspects of the bill. And there will be many votes to follow as well.

In preparation for the debate, the Senate Judiciary Committee released its “Committee Report” on S.744, the Gang of Eight Immigration Reform bill. The Committee Report provides details – in somewhat understandable English –about the bill. Here is a link to the Committee Report on S.744:

http://1.usa.gov/165cfhc

For anyone interested in Immigration Reform, the history of immigration in the United States, and the key issues in the current Immigration debate, this Committee Report is a must-read.

Here are some very interesting tidbits from the Report:

From studies of the last Amnesty (in 1986), legalizing previously undocumented workers increased U.S. wages by 10%;

S.744 will add more than $200 billion to the Social Security Trust Fund. It will be these newly-legalized immigrants who will finance Social Security payments to the ever-expanding numbers of retiring Baby Boomers;
S.744 will help businesses get scarce workers they need on a timely basis; it will also help unify families whose members are currently waiting in decades-long lines;
The Federal Government currently spends 24% more money ($18 billion) on immigration enforcement each year than the TOTALITY OF ALL OTHER law enforcement activities COMBINED;
Due in large part to this expenditure of funds, cities along the Mexican border are the safest in the US. El Paso, TX has the lowest crime rate of any city with a population of over 500,000. San Diego, CA has the second lowest crime rate. Since 2008, crime has decreased in all four Southwest border states;
In 2011, immigrants started 28% of all new businesses in the US, despite being 13% of the population. 40% of Fortune 500 companies were started by first- or second-generation immigrants. More than 40% of Ph.D.s in science and 55% of Engineering Ph.D.s are earned by foreign-born students.
With these facts, it is easy to understand why Immigration Reform has gained strong bi-partisan support.

Don Mooers

Immigration Reform as of Memorial Day

Mooers Immigration — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:41:37 +0000

Great news out of Congress this week. The Senate Judiciary Committee gave the green light to a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, while Speaker John Boehner “promised” that the House of Representatives will pass its own immigration reform bill. While the Speaker’s words were not the most positive, the fact that he stated that the House will pass a bill this summer was great news. The Washington Post quoted him as stating:

“We’re not going to be stampeded by the White House or stampeded by the president” […]. “The Senate is working its will, a lot of good work that’s gone on over there, but the House — the House will work its will.”

With the Memorial Day break upon us, Senators and Representatives will be back in their home states asking constituents for their opinions about a host of issues, including immigration reform. Most likely, the reports from these home visits will follow normal patterns, i.e. those who oppose immigration reform will report that their constituents hate reform, while supporters will report that their constituents urged them to pass reform.

In early June, we can look forward to:

The full Senate will take up the immigration reform bill and exhaustively debate myriad issues, including the path to legalization, high- and low-skilled visas, E-Verify, border security, the DV lottery, and scores of others. There will be high drama as the Gang of Eight works to hold the bipartisan package together for a final vote, also expected in June.
The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee will begin consideration of either several smaller immigration reform bills or a larger bipartisan initiative supported by a group of 4 Republicans and 4 Democrats. There is a great deal of posturing on immigration reform right now – expect the posturing to continue through June.

Immigration reform still has a long way to go.

Don Mooers

Mooers Immigration has long been engaged in Comprehensive Immigration Reform, responding to Congressional inquiries on policy and law issues. We are regularly asked to assist elected officials and their staff to understand both the benefits and consequences of various proposals for reform.

Senate Judiciary Committee Turns Focus to Internal Enforcement

Mooers Immigration — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:28 +0000

Today’s blog continues our report on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s markup of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee plowed through multiple amendments to the Immigration Reform bill. The Committee finished its consideration of amendments to the bill’s provisions related to border security and reforms to nonimmigrant visa programs. Senators from the “Gang of Eight” have remained committed to their compromise to see the bill move forward.

As the Committee continues its markup, consideration of the bill’s internal enforcement provisions will likely be a more strenuous process. Among the provisions under consideration today will be mandatory use of E-verify and employer penalties associated with employment of unauthorized foreign nationals. Provisions aimed at reducing current backlogs at immigration courts by increasing the discretion of immigration judges will also be considered.

We will continue our commentary on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s markup of the Immigration Reform bill as it has yet to consider some of the most controversial portions of the proposed legislation, including the legalization of undocumented immigrants, the elimination of the diversity visa lottery, and the elimination of immigrant visa categories for sponsorship of brothers and sisters of US citizens.

Taxing Problem for an Immigration Plan

Mooers Immigration — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:18:31 +0000

Corey Boles, Wall Street Journal

“Senators who want to offer legal status to the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants often say that the process won’t be speedy or easy. Among other things, illegal immigrants would first have to pay all back taxes they owe.”

Full Story

Senators protect fragile compromise on H-1B visas, fend off immigration bill amendments

Mooers Immigration — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:15:10 +0000

Jason Reed, Reuters

“Senators behind a sweeping immigration reform bill managed to defend their fragile compromise on Tuesday from a seige of amendments to expand or restrict a visa program for highly skilled workers…”

Full Story

Debates on the H-1B visa provisions of the Immigration Reform bill

Mooers Immigration — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:53:15 +0000

As a follow-up to our discussion of the Senate Immigration Reform bill and the provisions related to temporary visas for high-skilled and low-skilled workers, today’s blog will focus on the amendments proposed during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s debate of these provisions.

During yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee mark-up session, the Gang of Eight managed to stand behind key provisions of the immigration reform bill related to the H-1B visa program for temporary high skilled workers. The Committee took votes on amendments for both expanding and limiting the H-1B visa program. One of the amendments proposing to raise the cap to 325,000 failed by a vote of 4-14. An amendment requiring the audit of at least 1% of H-1B petitions also failed by a large margin of 2-16.

Among the amendments that did make it out of Committee was a proposal submitted by Senator Grassley requiring additional information in Internet job postings for employment required for H-1B visas, as well as Senator Hatch’s amendment to increase the labor certification fee proposed by the bill to improve STEM education and training in the United States.

We will continue to monitor the debates of the Senate Judiciary Committee as additional amendments to the H-1B visa program will be discussed tomorrow.

Gang of 8 looks to defend guest worker plan

Mooers Immigration — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:03:08 +0000

Seung Minkim, Politico

“The Senate Gang of Eight has largely controlled the Senate Judiciary Committee’s immigration markup, and the group’s next step: shielding a painstakingly negotiated agreement for a new guest worker program…”

Full Story

Amendment for “Little Dreamers” should be in immigration bill, say advocates

Mooers Immigration — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:59:32 +0000

Sandra Lilley, NBCLatino

“Democratic Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, who is on the Senate Judiciary Committee debating the current immigration bill, has introduced an amendment calling for an extension of the 5-year fast track for DREAMers so it also includes children…”

Full Story

Business, labor spar over high-skill visas in immigration bill

Mooers Immigration — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:42:02 +0000

Caren Bohan and Rachelle Younglai, Reuters, May 13, 2013

“A rift emerged between U.S. business groups and organized labor over a high-skilled worker program in the Senate immigration bill, as the tech industry and other firms on Monday pushed to make it easier for companies to hire people from abroad…”

Full Story

Proposed increases to visas for high-skilled and low-skilled workers

Mooers Immigration — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:54:11 +0000

In today’s blog, Attorney Alexandra Sanchez discusses proposed changes to temporary visas in the draft Senate reform bill:

The Senate’s immigration bill proposes to increase substantially the number of visas available for high-skilled workers (or workers in occupations requiring at least a Bachelor’s degree). Increasing the H-1B visa cap and exempting STEM graduates from the numerical limitations have been the main focus of supporters of immigration reform and its economic benefits. From a cap set currently at 65,000 per year, the bill increases H-1B visas to at least 110,000 with the possibility of making up to 180,000 visas available in the future depending on market conditions. Businesses have welcomed the expansion of the H-1B program, and are now focused on making less burdensome some of the program requirements designed to protect the US workforce.

On the other side of the spectrum, however, the Senate bill falls short in making available enough visas for low-skilled workers (or workers in occupations that require less than a Bachelor’s degree). Title IV includes a provision creating the W Nonimmigrant Visa category for foreign nationals in low skilled occupations, and creating the Bureau of Immigration and Labor Market Research to make determinations on shortage occupations. Starting on April 1, 2015, the annual cap for W non immigrant visas will be set at 20,000 for the first year; 35,000 for the second year; 55,000 for the third year, and 75,000 for the fourth year. After the fourth year, the annual cap will be calculated using a formula that takes into account market considerations. Still, it seems that the number of visas envisioned by the Senate bill for low-skill workers remains incredibly low vis-à-vis the adequate number of workers that would be needed to provide essential services like healthcare, childcare, and others.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has begun its debate of these provisions. We will soon know which of these proposals make it out of Committee.