|  |  | |
|
Over the Horizon...
Last Updated on Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 12:01 am EDT
|
|
The following are immigration-, asylum-, or refugee-related legislative items that are expected to be acted on some time over the next several weeks or actions that are expected to occur but have not yet been officially scheduled...
|
House Actions Senate Actions Bicameral Actions "Off-the Hill" Activities News Briefs
Upcoming House Actions
|
Upcoming House Immigration- and Refugee-Related Hearings
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Friday, May 11, 2012 -- 4:30 pm EDT
The following immigration- or refugee-related hearings are scheduled or likely to occur in the coming weeks:
- House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Attorney General's Disregard for the Constitution: The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for early June, at which it intends to examine "The Obama Administration's Disregard of the Constitution and Rule of Law", including its failure to enforce immigration law. The hearing apparently will focus on a report that the Committee issued on April 30, 2012, titled, The Obama Administration's Disregard of the Constitution and the Rule of Law. The Committee intends to call Attorney General Eric Holder as a witness at the hearing.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 7, 2012. It likely will occur in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Business Support for the E-Verify Program: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement is contemplating holding a hearing focusing on employers' support for the E-Verify program. At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been announced.
The hearing originally was scheduled for April 27, 2012, however it was postponed and has yet to be rescheduled. When it occurs, it likely will take place in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on the U.S. Refugee Admissions and Asylum Programs: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement must reschedule an oversight hearing that originally was scheduled for February 29, 2012, to examine the U.S. refugee admissions and asylum programs. At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been announced.
The hearing originally was scheduled for February 29, 2012, however it was postponed and has yet to be rescheduled. When it occurs, it likely will take place in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
|
|
Upcoming House Immigration- and Refugee-Related Markups
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 -- 8:40 am EDT
The following immigration- or refugee-related hearings are scheduled to occur in the coming weeks:
- House Committee Could Mark Up Bill to Increase CBP Access to Federal Lands: While no Committee action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, it is anticipated that the House Committee on Science, Space and technology will move in the coming weeks to markup H.R. 2463, the "Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2011", which would direct the Department of Homeland Security to continue the development of a variety of border security technologies, including efforts to incorporate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in border and maritime airspace.
At the time of this writing, the markup had not yet been scheduled.
- House Homeland Security Committee Could Mark Up Bill to Increase CBP Access to Federal Lands: The House Committee on Homeland Security is expected in the coming weeks to mark up H.R. 1922, a bill to provide the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with greater access to federal lands for the purposes of conducting border security operations. As introduced by freshman Representative Ben Quayle (R-AZ), H.R. 1922 would provide that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, CBP shall have access to Federal lands for security activities, including routine motorized patrols; and the deployment of temporary tactical infrastructure. The measure would provide that in carrying out routine motorized patrols and deploying temporary tactical infrastructure, CBP shall do so, "to the maximum extent practicable, in a manner that the Secretary of Homeland Security determines will best protect the natural and cultural resources on Federal lands." The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security approved the measure on Thursday, June 2, 2011, by a voice vote.
At the time of this writing, the full committee markup had not yet been scheduled.
|
|
Upcoming House Immigration- and Refugee-Related Floor Actions
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Friday, May 11, 2012 -- 4:30 pm EDT
The following immigration- or refugee-related House floor actions could occur in the coming weeks:
-
Full House Could Take Up Mandatory E-Verify Bill: The full House of Representatives could at any time take up H.R. 2885, the "Legal Workforce Act", which would mandate that virtually all employers in the United States use an electronic employment verification system (EEVS) to verify the employment eligibility of their newhires, as well as require many employers to use the system to verify the employment eligibility of existing employees. The House Committee on the Judiciary approved H.R. 2885 on September 21, 2011, however, at the time of this writing, the Committee still had not yet filed a formal, written report on the measure.
No floor action has been scheduled for H.R. 2885, which also is pending before two other House committees.
-
Full House Could Take Up Vietnam Human Rights Act: The full House of Representatives could at any time take up H.R. 1410, the "Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2011", a measure that would prohibit U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam in excess of FY2011 amounts unless: (1) the federal government provides assistance, in addition to democracy building assistance under this Act, supporting human rights training, civil society building, and exchange programs between the Vietnamese National Assembly and Congress at levels commensurate with or exceeding any increases in nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam; and (2) the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political, media, and religious freedoms, minority rights, access to U.S. refugee programs, and actions to end trafficking in persons and the release of political prisoners.
With specific regard to refugees, the introduced version of the measure would have declare "it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or who failed to apply because of circumstances beyond their control." However, that provision was stripped from the bill during the House Committee on Foreign Affairs markup of the measure.
The House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved H.R. 1410 on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. However, at the time of this writing, the Committee had not yet formally reported the measure to the full House of Representatives.
While no floor action on H.R. 1410 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
-
Full House Could Take Up Border Tunnel Bill: The full House of representatives could at any time take up H.R. 4119, the "Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012", a measure that would increase penalties associated with constructing or conspiring to construct illegal tunnels between the United States and Mexico; provide more tools to U.S. law enforcement agencies to detect and deter the building of such tunnels; and require the Secretary of Homeland security to report to congress annually on tunnels discovered along the U.S.-Mexican border during the preceding fiscal year, as well as on the Department's needs to prevent, investigate, and prosecute border tunnel construction along the border.
The House Committee on the Judiciary approved H.R. 4119 on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. However, at the time of this writing, the Committee had not yet formally reported the measure to the full House of Representatives. Moreover, the measure has been referred to two additional committees: the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Ways and Means.
While no floor action on H.R. H.R. 4119 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
-
Full House Could Take Up Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program: The full House of Representatives could at any time take up H.R. 704, the "SAFE for America Act", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) that would eliminate the diversity visa program. The House Committee on the Judiciary approved the measure on July 20, 2011. It was formally reported to the full House of Representatives on November 10, 2011
While no floor action on H.R. 704 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
-
Full House Could Take Up Bill to Make it Easier for Prosecutors to Convict Illegal Immigrants of Felony Identify Theft: The full House of Representatives could at any tme schedule floor consideration of H.R. 2552, the "Identify Theft Improvement Act of 2011", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) providing that when a person is charged with identity theft under Section 1028(a)(7) or 1028A(a) of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, prosecutors would not need to show that the person charged knew that the identity documents were those of another actual person in order to win a felony conviction. The Committee approved the measure by a vote of 16-10 on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, after taking up three amendments that were offered to it, rejecting all three of them. The bill was formally reported to the full House of Representatives on September 8, 2011.
While no floor action on H.R. 2552 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
- Full House Could Take Up Bill Providing for the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens: The full House of Representatives could at any time schedule floor consideration of H.R. 1932, the "Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2001", a measure introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) that would provide for the indefinite detention of "dangerous aliens". The House Committee on the Judiciary approved the measure on Thursday, July 13, 2011. It was formally reported to the full House of Representatives on October 18, 2011.
While no House floor action on H.R. 1932 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
- Full House Could Take Up Visa Security Bill: The full House of Representatives could at any time schedule floor consideration of H.R. 1741, the "Secure Visas Act", a measure introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) that would make it easier for the Departments of State and Homeland Security to deny ad revoke visas. The House Committee on the Judiciary approved the measure on Thursday, June 23, 2011. It was formally reported to the full House of Representatives on March 8, 2012.
While no House floor action on H.R. 1741 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
- Full House Could Take Up Bill Requiring Plan to Achieve Operational Control of the Border: The full House of Representatives could at any time take up H.R. 1299, the "Secure Border Act of 2011", introduced by House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security Chairwoman Candice Miller (R-MI). As reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security, the measure would require the Administration to submit within 180 days a plan on how to achieve operational control of the U.S. border within five years. The House Committee on Homeland Security approved the measure on September 21, 2011. It was formally reported to the full House of Representatives on November 10, 2011.
While no House floor action on H.R. 1299 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
- Full House Could Take Up Bill Authorizing the Establishment of Border Enforcement Task Force Teams: The full House of Representatives could at any time take up H.R. 915, the "Jamie Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act", introduced by House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security Ranking Minority Member Henry Cuellar (D-TX). As approved by the House Committee on Homeland Security, the measure would establish within the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit a Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) program. The bill would establish a number of criteria for the Secretary of Homeland Security to take into consideration when establishing BEST programs, and it would direct the Secretary to report on the effectiveness of the program in enhancing border security and reducing the drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across U.S. borders. The measure would authorize $10 MILLION for establishing and operating the BEST programs and for investigating summlers and traffickers along the U.S. Border.
The House Committee on Homeland Security approved H.R. 915 on June 2, 2011. It was formally reported to the full House of Representatives on November 4, 2011.
While no House floor action on 915 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
-
Full House Could Take Up National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act: The full House of Representatives could at any time take up H.R. 1505, the "National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act". As introduced, H.R. 1505 would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) from taking action on public lands which impede the border security activities of the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) (Secretary). The measure provides that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have immediate access to any public land managed by the federal government in order to conduct activities that assist in securing the border (including access to maintain and construct roads, construct a fence, use patrol vehicles, and set up monitoring equipment).
In addition to provisions on access, H.R. 1505 also would extend the authority that the Secretary of Homeland Security currently has to waive all environmental and land management laws in order to complete construction of fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico so that the authority would be applicable to all sections of the international land and maritime borders of the United States within 100 miles of such.
The House Committee on Natural Resources approved H.R. 1505 on October 5, 2011. However, at the time of this writing, the Committee had not yet formally reported the measure to the full House of Representatives.
While no floor action on H.R. 1505 had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, action on the measure could be scheduled at any time.
|
|
Upcoming Senate Immigration- and Refugee-Related Legislative Hearings
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Tuesday, May 2, 2012 -- 11:30 pm EDT
The following immigration- or refugee-related hearings are scheduled or likely to occur in the coming weeks:
-
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Student Visas: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security is planning a hearing for sometime this summer on a forthcoming Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on student visas. At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been announced.
There is no word on precisely when the hearing will be held, but it is expected to occur in conjunction with the GAO's release of a report on student visas that is expected sometime in the late Spring or early Summer of 2012. When it occurs, it likely will take place in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
|
|
Upcoming Senate Immigration- and Refugee-Related Legislative Markups
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Thursday, May 17, 2012 -- 12:01 am EDT
The following immigration- or refugee-related markups are scheduled or anticipated to occur in the coming weeks:
- UPDATED! Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to Mark Up FY '13 Appropriations Bill that Funds Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a markup for next week of its version of the Fiscal Year 2013 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill. Each year, the measure funds the federal government's refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA), and International Disaster Assistance (IDA) programs and functions.
The markup is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, in Room SD-138 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- Senate Appropriations Committee to Mark Up FY '13 Appropriations Bill that Funds Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance: While no Committee action had yet been officially scheduled at the time of this writing, it is anticipated that the full Senate Committee on Appropriations during the next two weeks could mark up its version of the Fiscal Year 2013 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Each year, the measure funds the federal government's refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA), and International Disaster Assistance (IDA) programs and functions.
At the time of this writing, the markup had not yet been scheduled. However, it is anticipated that it will occur during the week of May 21, 2012.
|
|
Upcoming Senate Immigration- and Refugee-Related Legislative Floor Actions
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 -- 12:30 am EDT
The following immigration- or refugee-related floor actions could occur in the coming weeks:
- NEW! Full Senate Could Take Up FY '13 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill: The full Senate in the coming weeks is expected to take up S. 2323, its version of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act funds the federal government's immigration court system, including the Executive Office for Immigration Review. Should the Subcommittee markup occur, the bill will likely contain a number of immigration-related provisions.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its version of S. 2323 on Thursday, April 19, 2012. The measure was formally reported to the full Senate on April 19.
Senate floor consideration of S. 2323 could occur as soon as the week of May 21, 2012.
-
Full Senate Could Take Up Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Bill Containing Immigration Provisions: The full Senate could at any time take up S. 1301, the "Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011". The measure contains a number of provisions relating to alien trafficking victims.
At the time of this writing, no date for full Senate consideration of the measure had yet been set.
-
Full Senate Could Take Up Bill Revising Annual Per-Country Limits for Employment- and Family-Based Immigrant Visas: The full Senate could at any time take up H.R. 3012, the "Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011. As passed by the House of Representatives, the measure would eliminate the annual per-country limitations for employment-based immigrants, and it would increase the annual per-country limitations for family-based immigant visas from 7.5 percent of the total number of available visas to 15 percent of the total number of available visas. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 3012 on November 18, 2011, by a vote of 389-15.
At the time of this writing, no date for either full Senate or Senate Judiciary Committee consideration of the measure had yet been set.
-
Full Senate Could Take Up Haitian Progress Act: The full Senate could at any time take up H.R. 1016, the "Assessing Haitian Progress Act", which would make a number of findings with regard to the situation in Haiti and direct the President to report to Congress regarding the status of post-earthquake humanitarian, reconstruction, and development efforts in Haiti, including efforts to prevent the spread of cholera and treat persons infected with the disease, and an assessment of the ability of Haiti to absorb deportees from the United States.
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 1016 on Tuesday, May 10, 2011, by a voice vote. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which has not indicated whether it plans to take up the measure.
At the time of this writing, no date for full Senate consideration of the measure had yet been set.
- Full Senate Could Take Up Bill Easing Plight of Deployed Military Personnel and Their Conditional Resident Spouses: The full Senate could at any time take up H.R. 398, a measure to ease the plight of active duty military personnel and their spouses who are seeking to remove the conditional nature of their permanent residency while they are deployed overseas. As passed by the House, the measure would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to toll, during active-duty service abroad in the Armed Forces, the periods of time to file a petition and appear for an interview to remove the conditional basis for permanent resident status. It was introduced by House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Ranking Minority Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and is cosponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), House Judiciary Immigration Policy and Enforcement Chairman Elton Gallegly (R-CA), and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Minority Member John Conyers (D-MI).
The House Committee on the Judiciary approved H.R. 398 on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, by a voice vote. However, the Committee did not formally report the measure to the full House of Representatives until July 8, 2011. The House passed the measure on Monday, August 1, 2011, by a vote of 426-0.
At the time of this writing, no date for full Senate consideration of the measure had yet been set. The House passed the measure on Monday, August 1, 2011, by a vote of 407-17.
- Full Senate Could Take Up Bill Reviving and Revising the Expired H-1C Nonimmigrant Nurses Program: The full Senate could at any time take up H.R. 1933, a measure introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) that would revive and revise the expired H-1C nonimmigrant nurses program.
At the time of this writing, no date for full Senate consideration of the measure had yet been set.
|
Upcoming Bicameral Actions
|
Upcoming Bicameral Actions On or Impacting
Immigration- and Refugee-Related Matters
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Saturday, March 3, 2012 -- 11:15 am EST
The following bicameral immigration- or refugee-related floor actions could occur in the coming weeks:
|
Upcoming "Off of the Hill" Activities
|
Upcoming "Off of the Hill" Immigration- and Refugee-Related
Legislative Activity
By Micheal E. Hill
Last Updated on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 -- 8:40 am EDT
The following immigration- or refugee-related "off of the Hill" activities could occur in the coming weeks:
-
White House Daily Briefings: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is scheduled virtually every week day to conduct daily press briefings, at which he will field questions from the White House press corps, including possible questions on immigration- and refugee-related matters.
When they occur, the White House Daily Briefings will take place in White House Brady Briefing Room when the President is in Washington. They usually occur off-camera aboard Air Force One when the President is traveling.
|
|
|
|
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
