The full Senate on Thursday, May 27, rejected four Republican-authored border security amendments to H.R. 4899, an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that the United States Senate had under consideration.  The four amendments were authored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), John McCain (R-AZ), and Jim DeMint (R-SC).  They would have added nearly $2.5 BILLION in border security and immigration enforcement spending to the measure.

• McCain National Guard Amendment.  The Senate rejected McCain Amendment Number 4214 by a vote of 51-46 (60 affirmative votes were needed in order for the amendment to pass).  The McCain amendment would have increased funding in the supplemental appropriations bill by $250 million in order to fund the deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops on the U.S. border with Mexico.  It was cosponsored at the time of its submission by Senators Kyl, Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Cornyn, Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and James Webb (D-VA). 

• Kyl-McCain Operation Streamline Amendment.  The Senate rejected Kyl-McCain Second Degree Amendment Number 4228 (link is to the text of the amendment prior to being modified) to Cornyn Amendment Number 4202.  The Senate rejected the Kyl-McCain amendment by a vote of 54-44 (60 affirmative votes were needed in order for the amendment to pass).  It would have increased funding by $200 MILLION in order to expand "Operation Streamline," a program that provides for the criminal prosecution and mandatory prison sentences for persons who enter the United States without inspection. 

• Cornyn Border Security Amendment.  The Senate rejected Cornyn Amendment Number 4202 by a vote of 54-43 (60 affirmative votes were needed in order for the amendment to pass).  The Cornyn amendment would have increased funding by $2 BILLION for a variety of border security functions.  Among the activities and material that it would have funded are additional equipment along the U.S. border with Mexico, including additional helicopters and drones; additional funding for ICE, CBP, DEA, BATF, and the National Guard; additional funding for various task forces and fusion centers that are intended to increase intergovernmental and interagency border security and immigration cooperation; additional funding for facilities and personnnel involved in detention and removal operations; and funding for infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry.
   
• DeMint Border Fencing Amendment.  The Senate rejected a DeMint Amendment Number 4177 by a vote of 45-52 (67 affirmative votes were needed in order for the amendment to pass).  The DeMint amendment would have required the Department of Homeland Security to complete the construction of 700 miles of double-layered fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico within a year after the date of enactment of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill.

• Cornyn Border Security Amendment.  The Cornyn amendment Number 4202 would increase funding by $2 billion for a variety of border security functions.  Among the activities and material that it would fund are additional equipment along the U.S. border with Mexico, including additional helicopters and drones; additional funding for ICE, CBP, DEA, BATF, and the National Guard; additional funding for various task forces and fusion centers that are intended to increase intergovernmental and interagency border security and immigration cooperation; additional funding for facilities and personnnel involved in detention and removal operations; and funding for infrastructure improvements at U.S. ports of entry.

• Kyl-McCain Operation Streamline Amendment.  The Kyl-McCain Second Degree Amendment Number 4228 to Cornyn Amendment Number 4202 would increase funding by $200 million in order to expand "Operation Streamline," a program that provides for the criminal prosecution and mandatory prison sentences for persons who enter the United States without inspection.

• McCain National Guard Amendment.  The McCain Amendment Number 4214 would increase funding in the supplemental appropriations bill by $250 million in order to fund the deployment of 6,000 National Guard trooops on the U.S. border with Mexico.  It is cosponsored by Senators Kyl, Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Cornyn, Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and James Webb (D-VA).
  

• the full Senate will take up an emergency fiscal year 2010 supplemental appropriations bill beginning on Monday, May 24, and it likely will have the measure under consideration through the entirety of the week;

• the full House will take up its Fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, and Members are expected to seek permission to offer border security-related amendments to the measure; 

• the Senate Committee on Armed Services will take up its Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, and senators are expected to offer border security-related amendments to the bill; and
  

• the House Committee on Appropriations could take up its version of the emergency fiscal year 2010 supplemental appropriations bill by mid-week this week.  If it does so, it is likely that GOP Members will seek to offer immigration enforcement-related amendments to the draft measure.

• C-SPAN - Washington Journal.  Donald Kerwin, Vice President of Programs for the Migration Policy Institute, appeared on the May 23, 2010, edition of C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" to talk about U.S. immigration policy, with a focus on enforcement and privacy issues.  He also responded to telephone calls and electronic communications:

• CNN - State of the Union.  Governors Ed Rendell (D-PA) and Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) commented on comprehensive immigration reform, the Arizona immigration enforcement law, and Mexican President Filipe's Calderon's comments on Arizona during the May 23, 2010, edition of CNN's "State of the Union" program:

• FOX - Fox News Sunday.  The subject of immigration came up during the roundtable discussion on Fox News Channel's "Fox News Sunday", featuring Brit Hume, Fox News Senior Political Analyst; Mara Liasson,  National Public Radio & Fox News; Bill Kristol, Weekly Standard & Fox News; and Kirsten Powers, New York Post & Fox News:

• NBC - Meet the Press.  Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairs of the Republican and Democratic Senate campaign committees, respectively, appeared on the May 23, 2010, edition of NBC's "Meet the Press", during which they commented on the prospects for the enactment of comprehensive immigration reform:
  

• ABC - This Week.  The subject of immigration came up during the roundtable discussion on ABC's "This Week", which featured a discussion by host Jake Tapper and correspondents Sam Donaldson, Cokie Roberts, Donna Brazille, and George F. Will.  The immigration discussion begins at 16:30 and continues through the end of the video: 
  

• Welcoming Ceremony for Mexican President Calderon and First Lady Zavala.  At 9:30 am EDT on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, United States President Barack Obama and Mexican President Filipe Calderon gave remarks   on the South Lawn of the White House.
  

• Obama-Calderon Joint Press Conference.  At 12:25 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, President Barack Obama and Mexican President Filipe Calderon made separate statements on the meetings that had just concluded, and they held a joint press conference, during which each President called on one questioner from the assembled press corps.

• a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on S. 3113, the Refugee Protection Act;

• a  Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law hearing titled, "Drug Enforcement and the Rule of Law: Mexico and Columbia";

• a House Committee on Homeland Security  hearing for this week titled, "Viewpoints on Homeland Security: A Discussion with the 9/11 Commissioners"; and

• a House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade oversight hearing on customs operations administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

• FOX - Fox News Sunday.  Among the guests appearing on the May 9, 2010, edition of FOX's "Fox News Sunday" was former First Lady Laura Bush, who commented on the recently enacted Arizona immigration enforcement law:

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) made an attempt to attach his border fencing proposal to another pending amendment to the financial regulatory reform bill on Thursday, May 13.  However, the DeMint attempt failed when the author of the amendment that he sought to attach his proposal to withdrew it from consideration.  Despite Thursday's failure, Senator DeMint has promised to continue attempting to get a vote on his amendment in connection with the financial regulatory reform bill.

Yesterday's action began around 5:00 pm EDT, when Senator DeMint offered his border fencing amendment to a proposal of Senator Ron Wyden's (D-OR) to curtail the use of secret holds on legislation and nominations.  The Wyden proposal had gained widespread, bipartisan popularity in the Senate, and it had appeared up to that point that it would sail through the Senate with as many as 80 votes.  Senator DeMint surprised the Senate (and Senator Wyden) by offering his "second degree" amendment to the Wyden proposal without notice.  After an hour of heated behind-the-scenes discussion, Senator Wyden agreed to withdraw his proposal rather than accept a vote on the DeMint fencing amendment.

Senator DeMint originally filed his border fencing amendment to S. 3217, the "Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010", on Wednesday, May 5.  At the time, it was filed as Senate Amendment 3852.  The amendment would require the Department of Homeland Security to complete the construction of 700 miles of double-layered fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico.

In announcing his plan to offer his fencing amendment, Senator DeMint said doing so would "follow through on the four-year-old promise made by Congress to secure the border under the Secure Fence Act of 2006."  Senator DeMint quoted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) staff as saying that to date, only 34.3 miles of the mandated 700 miles of double layer fencing has been built.  He says that 11.8 of that fencing has been built in California, 9.1 in Arizona, and 13.4 in Texas.

The South Carolina Senator offered a similar amendment last year in the Senate to H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate approved the amendment at that time by a vote of 54-44, with 21 Democrats and 33 Republicans voting in favor of it.  However, the DeMint amendment was one of several immigration and border enforcement amendments that were dropped from the Homeland Security Appropriations measure in conference.

“We’ve now had two administrations fail to keep their promise to the American people to secure our border and Americans are tired of excuses,” said Senator DeMint. “Americans have demanded a real fence to combat the very real problems of illegal immigration that have led to human trafficking, drug trafficking, kidnapping and violence on our border. Congress will never be able to achieve long-term reform to create a legal immigration system that works until we secure our borders.

“We’ve had rhetoric and promises for four years without results. It’s time we completed the fence and secured our borders to protect American citizens.”

If Senator DeMint’s amendment is signed into law, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano would be required to submit a report to Congress within six months (or 180 days) after enactment of the law on the progress made and her plans for completing the fence within twelve months.


Click on the Play button, above to see video of Senator Wyden's angry speech on the Senate floor on Thursday, May 13, denouncing Senator DeMint's tactics.

• ABC - This Week.  Among the guests appearing on the May 9, 2010, edition of  ABC's "This Week" will be Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr., who addressed the Arizona immigration law during his segment:

• FOX - Fox News Sunday.  Among the guests appearing on the May 9, 2010, edition of FOX's "Fox News Sunday" are Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-CT).  Senator Lieberman recently introduced a bill to make it easier to strip suspected terrorists of their U.S. citzenship, and he was asked about the bill during his appearance on the program this week:

• NBC - Meet the Press.  Among the guests appearing on the May 9, 2010, edition of  NBC's "Meet the Press" will be Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr., who answered questions about the recently enacted Arizona immigration enforcement law:

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) announced on Wednesday, May 5, that he plans to offer an amendment to pending financial regulatory reform legislation that would require the completion within a year of 700 miles of double-layered fencing along the United States border with Mexico.  However, at the time of this writing, it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Senate will actually take up the DeMint fencing amendment to the financial regulatory reform measure. 

The Senator filed the amendment to S. 3217, the "Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010", on Wednesday, May 5, and he could seek to offer it on the Senate floor at any time.  Senator DeMint's amendment, Senate Amendment 3852, is one of more than one hundred that have been filed to the financial regulatory reform bill.  Unlike most of the others, however, it is neither germane nor related to the subject matter of the underlying bill.  As such, it is unclear whether the Senate will ever take it up.  There will be no votes in the Senate on amendments to the financial regulatory reform bill on Friday, May 7, or Monday, May 10.

In announcing his plan to offer his fencing amendment, Senator DeMint said doing so would "follow through on the four-year-old promise made by Congress to secure the border under the Secure Fence Act of 2006."  Senator DeMint quoted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) staff as saying that to date, only 34.3 miles of the mandated 700 miles of double layer fencing has been built.  He says that 11.8 of that fencing has been built in California, 9.1 in Arizona, and 13.4 in Texas.

The South Carolina Senator offered a similar amendment last year in the Senate to H.R. 2892, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate approved the amendment at that time by a vote of 54-44, with 21 Democrats and 33 Republicans voting in favor of it.  However, the DeMint amendment was one of several immigration and border enforcement amendments that were dropped from the Homeland Security Appropriations measure in conference.

“We’ve now had two administrations fail to keep their promise to the American people to secure our border and Americans are tired of excuses,” said Senator DeMint. “Americans have demanded a real fence to combat the very real problems of illegal immigration that have led to human trafficking, drug trafficking, kidnapping and violence on our border. Congress will never be able to achieve long-term reform to create a legal immigration system that works until we secure our borders.

“We’ve had rhetoric and promises for four years without results. It’s time we completed the fence and secured our borders to protect American citizens.”

If Senator DeMint’s amendment is signed into law, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano would be required to submit a report to Congress within six months (or 180 days) after enactment of the law on the progress made and her plans for completing the fence within twelve months.

In her weekly press conference on Thursday. May 6, the Speaker said that while she appreciates “the spirit” of the proposal, she is concerned and that Congress should be very, very careful about such proposals.  Minority Leader Boehner was less diplomatic in his criticisms, saying during his weekly press conference, “it would be pretty difficult, under the U.S. constitution” to strip someone of their citizenship."  He added, "If they’re a U.S. citizen, until they’re convicted of some crime, I don’t know how you would attempt to take their citizenship away.”

In explaining the rationale of his bill, Senator Lieberman said, "our enemies today are stateless actors who don’t wear uniforms."  He went on to say, "it has become a strategy of al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorist groups over the past couple of years to recruit U.S. citizens who can train overseas and then use their American passports to re-enter the U.S. for the purposes of planning and carrying out attacks against us."

Under current law, the citizenship of American citizens can be legally taken away from any adult who, among other actions, obtains naturalization in a foreign state, makes a formal declaration of allegiance to a foreign state, serves in the armed forces of a foreign state if engaged in hostilities against the United States, makes a formal renunciation of nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of the US in a foreign state, or commits any act of treason.


CLick on the play button, above to see video of remarks by House Speaker Pelosi on the Lieberman proposal.

• CNN - State of the Union.  Among the guests appearing on the May 2, 2010, edition of  CNN's "State of the Union" were Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar. CNN also interviewed former Florida Speaker of the House Marco Rubio (R-FL), a Cuban-American who is a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Senator George Lemieux (R-FL), and Florida Governor Charlie Crist (I-FL), also a candidate for that seat.  Rubio, who is favored by the "Tea Party" movement,  has been an opponent of comprehensive immigration reform legislation.  However, he has come out in recent days against the Arizona immigration enforcement law.  He commented on the controversial Arizona immigration enforcement law during his appearnce on "State of the Union":