Posts Tagged ‘House’
U.S. IMMIGRATION BILLS INTRODUCED FROM OCTOBER 2011 – DECEMBER 2011
The following is a list of important immigration bills introduced in the U.S. Senate and House between October 2011 and December 2011:
Senate:
1. Families First Immigration Enforcement Act (S. 1949) – provides for safe and humane policies and procedures pertaining to the arrest, detention, and processing of foreign nationals in immigration enforcement operations.
2. STEM Visa Act of 2011 (S. 1986) – amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to promote innovation, investment and research in the United States.
3. Irish Recognition and Encouragement Act of 2011 – IRE Act (S. 2005) – authorizes the Secretary of State to issue up to 10,500 E-3 temporary work visas per year to Irish nationals.
House:
1. H-2A Improvement Act (H.R. 3232) – includes within the H-2A visa category a foreign national coming temporarily to the U.S. to work as a sheepherder, goat herder, or dairy worker. The bill also exempts an employer from the requirement to show that the position is of a seasonal or temporary nature.
2. Haitian Emergency Life Protection Act of 2011- H.E.L.P. Act (H.R. 3297) – amends the INA with respect to V visa nonimmigrants (spouses/children of a green card holder who come to the U.S. to wait for completion of immigrant visa process) to include certain Haitian nationals whose petition for a family-sponsored immigrant visa was approved on or before January 12, 2010.
3. Foster Children Opportunity Act (H.R. 3333) – requires state plans for foster care and adoption assistance to have procedures to assist foreign national children in the child welfare system to achieve special immigrant juvenile status and green card status before exiting foster care.
4. Visa Improvements to Stimulate International Tourism to the United States of America- VISIT USA (H.R. 3341) – provides qualifying nationals of China (PRC) with a five-year multiple entry/exit visitor visa.
5. Enhanced Border Security Act (H.R. 3401) – directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a counterinsurgency strategy to combat the operations of transnational criminal organizations in Mexico.
6. American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship Act- AGREE Act (H.R. 3476) – amends the INA to eliminate the per country cap for employment-based immigrants and increase the per country cap for family-based immigrants.
7. Religious Worker Visa Reciprocity Act of 2011 (H.R. 3557) – requires the country of origin of certain special immigrant religious workers to extend reciprocal immigration treatment to U.S. nationals.
8. Immigration and Naturalization Investment Ventures for Engineering, Science, and Technology- INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3692) – establishes an entrepreneur-based immigrant category for alien entrepreneurs who have completed or are in the process of completing a degree in science, engineering, math or a technology-related field.
9. Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2011 (H.R. 3718) – prioritizes certain returning workers for purposes of the quotas on H-2B non-agricultural temporary workers.
10. New Illegal Deduction Elimination Act- New IDEA Act (H.R. 3720) – amends the Internal Revenue Code (tax code) of 1986 to clarify that wages paid to unauthorized aliens may not be deducted from gross income.
Tags: Congress, House, immigration reform, Senate
Posted in immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
Recent Immigration Bills Introduced
Between August and October 2011, there were many immigration bills introduced in the U.S. House and Senate. The following is a list of highlights:
Senate:
S. 1545 – designates Taiwan as a visa waiver program country
S. 1576 – measures the progress of relief, recovery, reconstruction and development efforts in Haiti following the earthquake of Jan. 12, 2010
House:
HR 2730 – better enables State child welfare agencies to prevent human trafficking of children and serve the needs of children who are victims of human trafficking
HR 2771 – increases to 5 years the period during which a Cuban national must be physically present in the United States in order to qualify for a green card
HR 2831 – amends the Cuban Refugee Adjustment Act to make individuals who return to Cuba after admission or parole into the U.S.
ineligible for a green card
HR 2847 – establishes an H-2C nonimmigrant visa for an alien having residence in a foreign country which he or she has no intention of abandoning and who is coming temporarily (10-month maximum per contract period) to the U.S. to perform agricultural services
HR 2878 – amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) with respect to temporary admission of nonimmigrant aliens for the purpose of receiving medical treatment
HR 2885 – makes mandatory and permanent requirements for use of E-Verify for employment verification
HR 2899 – establishes a reciprocal relationship between the number of visas issued to state-controlled media workers in China and in the U.S.
HR 2952 – provides for expedited removal of certain aliens
HR 2981 – amends the INA to eliminate the 1-year deadline for application for asylum in the United States
HR 3012 – eliminates the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, and increases the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants
Tags: House, immigration bills, immigration reform, Senate
Posted in immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
House Passes DREAM Act But Senate Delays
On Wednesday night, December 8, 2010, the House of Representatives passed its version of the DREAM Act by a 216 to 198 vote. The Senate was scheduled to vote on its version by this morning at 11AM EST but instead has withdrawn its version by a 59-40 vote and will be focusing on the House version of the bill, which it tabled for now. The Senate will likely resolve other issues first, such as tax cuts, before voting on the DREAM Act.
The DREAM Act would provide lawful permanent residence (i.e. green card status) to certain undocumented youth who, as children, were brought to the U.S. The criteria to qualify include: completing high school; demonstrating good moral character; and completing at least two years of higher education or serving for at least two years in the U.S. military.
Please stay tuned for updates on the Senate’s actions with respect to this important and historical legislation.
Tags: DREAM Act, House, lame duck, Senate, Senator Reid
Posted in Alerts, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
Emergency Bill Headed to Obama’s Desk
In a prior post, we informed readers that the Senate was going to vote on the emergency Border Security Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 in September 2010 when it returned from its August recess. This is a $600 million spending bill aimed at U.S. border security. Apparently, the Senate has moved on the measure before its recess, passing it by unanimous vote on 08/12/2010. The bill will now head to President Obama’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law.
Tags: border security, Emergency spending bill, House, Obama, Senate
Posted in Alerts, Crimes and Immigration, immigration reform, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
