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This Week on the Hill -- Current Edition

Week of September 5, 2011 House and Senate Return from a Month-Long Recess Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and Committee to Mark Up FY '12 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill Secretary Clinton to Consult with House and Senate Judiciary Committees on FY '12 Refugee Admissions House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on Agricultural Guest Worker Bill House Homeland Security to Hold Hearing on the Aftermath of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters could be discussed: House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on the Aftermath of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States: The House Committee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "The Attacks of September 11th: Where Are We Today." The witness list for the hearing includes Lee Hamilton, former Vice Chairman, National Commisssion on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States; Tom J. Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security; and Comptroller General of the U.S. Eugene Dodaro of the Government Accountability Office. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Judiciary Panel Hearing on Agricultural Guest Worker Bill: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on the "American Specialty Agriculture Act." At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been publicly released. Witnesses at the hearing will include Lee Wicker, Deputy Director, North Carolina Growers Association; Chalmers Carr, President and CEO, Titan Farms, S.C.; Dan Fazio, Director, Washington Farm Labor Association; and Robert Williams, Dattorney, Florida Legal Services. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Foreign Affairs Panel to Hold Hearing on the Humanitarian Crisis in East Africa: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Addressing the Humanitarian Emergency in East Africa." Witnesses at the hearing will include Rajakumari Jandhyala, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development; Katherine Zimmerman, Leader, Gulf of Aden Team, Critical Threats Project, American Enterprise Institute; Kent Hill, Senior Vice President for International Affairs, World Vision; and Shannon Scribner, Humanitarian Policy Manager, Oxfam America. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Senate Appropriations Committee Panel to Mark Up Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security this week is scheduled to mark up its version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The subcommittee markup is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, in Room SD-138 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Full Senate Appropriations Committee to Mark Up Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The full Senate Committee on Appropriations could this week is scheduled to mark up its version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The full committee markup is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, in Room SD-106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction Meeting: The newly formed Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has scheduled its first meeting for this week. The Committee is expected to entertain opening statements from its members and adopt its rules. The meeting is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Mark Up Fiscal Year 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Bill: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has scheduled a markup for this week of its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which administers the federal government's refugee resettlement, unaccompanied alien children, trafficking victim assistance, and torture victim assistance functions. The Subcommittee markup is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Friday, September 9, 2011, in Room 2358-B of the Rayburn House Office Building.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences:       This Week's Conference Committee Activity The following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees: Differences in Differing Versions of the FY '12 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: While no action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, the House and Senate could at any time constitute a conference committee to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2055, the FY '12 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 2055 on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. The Senate pass its version on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The most significant immigration-related difference between the two bills is a provision contained in the House-passed version of the bill that was stripped from the Senate-passed measure. The provision, found in Section 414 of the House-passed measure, would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure. No conference meeting is expected to occur during this week.   Off of the House and Senate Floors At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Briefing on Agricultural Guest Worker Issues: Representatives Howard C. Berman (D-CA), Joe Baca (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) have organized a briefing for this week to unveil a report by the Farmworker Justice Fund titled, "No Way to Treat a Guest: Why the H-2A Agricultural Visa Program Fails U.S. and Foreign Workers." Participants in the briefing will include Bruce Goldstein, President Farmworker Justice; Saket Soni, Director, National Guestworkers' Alliance; and Andrea Zuniga DiBitetto, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO. The briefing is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, in Room HC-8 of the U.S. Capitol Building. News Conference on the Immigration Views of the 2012 GOP Presidential Candidates: America's Voice has scheduled a telephonic press conference for this week to discuss the immigration views of the 2012 candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. The telephonic press conference is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2011. Fiscal Year 2012 Refugee Consultation: The leadership of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees could meet as soon as this week with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the annual refugee consultation. The refugee consultation must take place and the President of the United States must issue a Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions before any refugees can be admitted to the United States during fiscal year 2012. The refugee consultation is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 8, 2011. Disussion on Border Security After 9/11: The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has scheduled a discussion for this week titled "Border Security Challenges After 9/11: A Conversation with Three Commissioners of U.S. Customs and Border Protection." Participants in the discussion will include Commissioner Alan Bersin of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and former commissioners Robert Bonner and Ralph Basham. The discussion is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Friday, September 9, 2011, in the 6th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC.

Weeks of August 8 - August 29, 2011 The House and Senate are in the Midst of a Month-Long August Recess This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, no hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined. This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, no markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences:       This Week's Conference Committee Activity The following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees: Differences in Differing Versions of the FY '12 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: While no action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, the House and Senate could at any time constitute a conference committee to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2055, the FY '12 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 2055 on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. The Senate pass its version on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The most significant immigration-related difference between the two bills is a provision contained in the House-passed version of the bill that was stripped from the Senate-passed measure. The provision, found in Section 414 of the House-passed measure, would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure. No conference meeting is expected to occur during the August Recess.   Off of the House and Senate Floors At the time of this writing, no "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week.

Week of August 1, 2011 House and Senate Plan Action on Extension of Debt Limit House Appropriations to Mark Up FY '12 Bill that Funds Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance House to Take Up Bill Reviving the H-1C Nonimmigrant Nurses Program House to Take Up Bill Easing Immigration Plight of Some Servicemembers and Their Spouses Senate Foreign Relations Panel to Hold Hearing on the Famine and Drought in the Horn of Africa Congress to Begin Month-Long August Recess Upon Close of Business This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Senate Foreign Relations Panel to Hold a Hearing on Drought and Famine in the Horn of Africa:  The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week on drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.  Witnesses and briefers at the hearing will include Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator, Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development; Donald Yamamoto, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs; Reuben Brigety, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration; Robert Laprade, Denior Director, CARE USA; Jeremy Konyndyk, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Mercy Corps; J. Peter Pham, Director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council; and Afshan Khan, Director of Public-Sector Alliances and Resources Mobilization, UNICEF, New York, N.Y. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, in Room SD-419 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.  This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House Appropriations Committee to Mark Up of Fiscal Year 2012 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill: The full House Committee on Appropriations this week is scheduled to markup its version of the FY '12 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA), Emergency Refugee Migration Assistance (ERMA), and International Disaster Assistance (IDA) accounts.  The first two of these accounts are administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and they fund the federal government's refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs.  The third account is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs marked up its version of the measure on Wednesday, July 27, 2011.  The Subcommittee-approved measure would make significant cuts in fiscal year 2012 in the MRA, ERMA, and IDA accounts relative to fiscal year 2011.  With regard to the MRA account, the Subcommittee-approved measure would cut funding by about $190 MILLION (or 11.3 percent) in FY '12 relative to FY '11, from approximately $1.687 BILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) in fiscal year 2011 to approximately $1.497 BILLION in fiscal year 2012.  It would earmark $20 MILLION of those funds for refugees resettling in Israel.  The measure would provide for the use of an unspecified amount of Economic Support Fund (ESF) funding to community based organizations (CBOs) to assist Burmese refugees residing in Thailand, and it would provide for a transfer of $8 MILLION of ESF funds to the MRA account for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations assisting Columbian refugees in neighboring countries.  With regard to the ERMA account, the Subcommittee-approved measure would appropriate $32 MILLION for the Department of State's ERMA account.  This would be a cut of $17.9 MILLION (or 35.9 percent) in fiscal year 2012 relative to the $49.9 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for ERMA in fiscal year 2011.  With regard to the IDA account, the Subcommittee-approved measure would appropriate $757.652 MILLION for the USAID's IDA account.  This would be a cut of $105.618 MILLION (or 12.2 percent) in FY '12 relative to the $863.270 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for the IDA account in fiscal year 2011. Finally, the draft measure would bar funding to the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA), which assists Palestinian refugees, unless the Secretary of State certifies that seven conditions are complied with.  The House Committee on Appropriations markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.     This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences:  House to Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up Budget Control Act of 2011, a debt relief/deficit reduction measure that was agreed to by President Obama and the Congressional Leadership on Sunday, July 31, 2011.  The debt measure does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  Notwithstanding the absence of such provisions, though, it could place long-term downward pressure on both discretionary and entitlement spending, which could result in significant cuts over the long-term in immigration- and refugee-related spending.  However, the FY '12 discretionary spending limits provided for in the Budget Control Act of 2011 are higher than those contained in the House-approved FY '12 budget.  And so, ironically, the measure could actually decrease the downward pressure on FY '12 spending for such functions as refugee resettlement while increasing the downward pressure on funding for refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, immigration enforcement, and immigration services, when compared to the pressure that the House-approved FY '12 budget resolution would have placed on those functions. The House Committee on Appropriations has already produced a number of FY '12 appropriations bills.  Indeed, it was about to mark up the bill that funds refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance this week but canceled the markup in anticipation of reaching an overall deal on the budget.  In all likelihood, the House Committee on Appropriations will receive new FY '12 spending allocations for the various spending bills and will have to make adjustments in the bills that either have already passed the House, been approved by the Committee, been approved by one of the Committee's subcommittees, or that were in a draft form at the time that the deal on the Budget Control Act of 2011 was being negotiated. The biggest potential impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on spending for immigration services, immigration enforcement, border enforcement, refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and refugee resettlement may be what happens in FY '13.  The Budget Control Act of 2011 would require across-the-board cuts in discretionary spending beginning in January of 2013 if either the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction fails to report legislation making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction or if Congress fails to enact those recommendations into law (or fails to enact some other set of provisions making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction into law). The House could take up measure at any time on or after Monday, August 1, 2011.     Senate Could Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full Senate this week is expected to take up Budget Control Act of 2011, a debt relief/deficit reduction measure that was agreed to by President Obama and the Congressional Leadership on Sunday, July 31, 2011. The debt measure does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  Notwithstanding the absence of such provisions, though, it could place long-term downward pressure on both discretionary and entitlement spending, which could result in significant cuts over the long-term in immigration- and refugee-related spending.  However, the FY '12 discretionary spending limits provided for in the Budget Control Act of 2011 are higher than those contained in the House-approved FY '12 budget.  And so, ironically, the measure could actually decrease the downward pressure on FY '12 spending for such functions as refugee resettlement while increasing the downward pressure on funding for refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, immigration enforcement, and immigration services, when compared to the pressure that the House-approved FY '12 budget resolution would have placed on those functions. The House Committee on Appropriations has already produced a number of FY '12 appropriations bills.  Indeed, it was about to mark up the bill that funds refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance this week but canceled the markup in anticipation of reaching an overall deal on the budget.  In all likelihood, the House Committee on Appropriations will receive new FY '12 spending allocations for the various spending bills and will have to make adjustments in the bills that either have already passed the House, been approved by the Committee, been approved by one of the Committee's subcommittees, or that were in a draft form at the time that the deal on the Budget Control Act of 2011 was being negotiated. The biggest potential impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on spending for immigration services, immigration enforcement, border enforcement, refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and refugee resettlement may be what happens in FY '13.  The Budget Control Act of 2011 would require across-the-board cuts in discretionary spending beginning in January of 2013 if either the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction fails to report legislation making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction or if Congress fails to enact those recommendations into law (or fails to enact some other set of provisions making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction into law). The Senate could take up measure at any time on or after Monday, August 1, 2011. Full House to Take Up Bill Easing Plight of Deployed Military Personnel and Their Conditional Resident Spouses: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to 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 approved by the House Committee on the Judiciary, 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 Appropriations 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 is scheduled to take up H.R. 398 on Monday, August 1, 2011, under a process that will preclude amendments, limit debate to 40 minutes, and require the affirmative votes of two-thirds or more of those Members who are present and voting in order for the bill to be passed. Full House to Take Up Bill Reviving and Revising the Expired H-1C Nonimmigrant Nurses Program: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to 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.   The House Committee on the Judiciary approved the measure on Thursday, June 23, 2011.  However, the Committee did not formally report the measure to the full House of Representatives until July 19, 2011. The House is scheduled to take up H.R. 1933 on Monday, August 1, 2011, under a process that will preclude amendments, limit debate to 40 minutes, and require the affirmative votes of two-thirds or more of those Members who are present and voting in order for the bill to be passed.. This Week's Conference Committee Activity The following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees: Differences in Differing Versions of the FY '12 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: While no action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, the House and Senate could at any time constitute a conference committee to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2055, the FY '12 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 2055 on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. The Senate pass its version on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The most significant immigration-related difference between the two bills is a provision contained in the House-passed version of the bill that was stripped from the Senate-passed measure. The provision, found in Section 414 of the House-passed measure, would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure.   No conference meeting is expected to occur this week.     Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Discussion on the Famine in Somalia: The Brookings Institution has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Famine in Somalia: An Expected Turn for the Worse."  Participants in the discussion will include Semhar Araia, Horn of Africa Regional Policy Adviser for Oxfam America; Mark Bartolini, Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance; Vincent Cochetel, Representative to the United States and the Caribbean Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Allen Jury, Director of the U.S. Relations Office at the World Food Program; and Reuben Brigety, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. The panel discussion is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Monday, August 1, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Brookings Institution. Address by USCIS Director Mayorkas: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas this week is scheduled to deliver remarks to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee's (UNHCR) First Annual Refugee Congress, which will mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Refugee Convention. Director Mayorkas's remarks are scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, on the campus of the Georgetown University Law Center. Panel Discussion on U.S.-Mexico border Security: The Center for American Progress (CAP) this week is holding a discussion titled, "The State of U.S./Mexico Border Security: Assessing the Past, Present, and Future From the Early Build Up Today and Beyond."  Participants in the discussion will include Alan Bersin, Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection; Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow and Director of the Immigration Policy Program; and Marshall Fitz, Director of immigration policy at CAP.  The discussion is scheduled for workshop is is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Thursday, August 4, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Center for American Progress. Issue Forum on Immigration Enforcement and Criminalization: Jobs with Justice this week has scheduled a forum on immigration enforcement and criminalization during its 2011 Jobs with Justice National Conference.  The title of the forum is, "Immigration Enforcement and Criminalization, an organized attack to divide workers - & the grassroots fight back". The forum is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Friday, August 5, 2011, at the Omni Forum Hotel in Washington, DC.

Week of July 25, 2011 House and Senate Hope to Take Action on Extension of Debt Limit President Obama to Deliver Remarks at the NCLR Annual Conference House Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing Measure to Limit on the HALT Act Senate Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on the Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform House Appropriations Panel to Mark Up FY '12 Bill that Funds Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance House Homeland Security Committee to Hold Third in Series of Hearings on Islamic Extremisim in the United States This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Judiciary Panel Hearing on the "HALT Act": The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on H.R. 2596, the HALT (Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation) Act”.  As introduced, the measure would prohibit President Obama and his administration from granting a number of forms of relief from removal, as well as prohibit the Obama Administration from exercizing its authority to designate countries for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), during the remainder of the Obama first term.  The witness list for the hearing includes Senator David Vitter (R-LA), sponsor of the Senate version of the measure; Chris Crane, President, National ICE Council; Jessica Vaughan, Policy Director, Center for Immigration Studies; and Margaret Stock, Adjunct Professor, University of Alaska, Anchorage. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  Senate Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on the Potential Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security has scheduled a hearing for next week on the potential economic benefits of comprehensive immigration reform titled, "The Economic Imperative for Enacting Immigration Reform."  At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing included Robert Greifield, Chief Executive Officer, NASDAQ-OMX Group; David J. Skorton, President, Cornell University; Brad Smith, General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Corporation; Puneet S. Arora, Vice President, Immigration Voice, Los Angeles, California; David Roefaro, Mayor of Utica, New York; Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr., Mayor of Lewiston, Maine; and Paul Bridges, Mayor of Uvalda, Georgia. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in Room SD-226 or the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on Islamic Radicalization in the United States: The House Committee on Homeland Security is scheduled this week to hold the third in a series of hearings it is holding on Islamic radicalization in the United States. The hearing will concentrate on "Al Shabaab: Recruitment and Radicalization within the Muslim American Community and the Threat to the Homeland."  The witness list for the hearing includes Ahmed Hussen, member, Cross Cultural Roundtable on Security, Canada; William Anders Folk, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Minnesota; and Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Fellow and Executive Director, Center for Law and Counterterrorism, Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.  This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Appropriations Subcommittee to Mark Up of Fiscal Year 2012 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs this week is scheduled to markup its Draft Fiscal Year 2012 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill.  Each year, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA), Emergency Refugee Migration Assistance (ERMA), and International Disaster Assistance (IDA) accounts.  The first two of these accounts are administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and they fund the federal government's refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs.  The third account is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). With regard to refugee and refugee-related funding, the draft measure would cut funding for the MRA account by about $190 MILLION (or 11.3 percent) in FY '12 relative to FY '11, from approximately $1.687 BILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) in fiscal year 2011 to approximately $1.497 BILLION in fiscal year 2012.  It would earmark $20 MILLION of those funds for refugees resettling in Israel.  The draft measure would appropriate $32 MILLION for the Department of State's ERMA account.  This would be a cut of $17.9 MILLION (or 35.9 percent) in fiscal year 2012 relative to the $49.9 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for ERMA in fiscal year 2011.  The draft measure would provide for the use of an unspecified amount of Economic Support Fund (ESF) funding to community based organizations (CBOs) to assist Burmese refugees residing in Thailand, and it would provide for a transfer of $8 MILLION of ESF funds to the MRA account for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations assisting Columbian refugees in neighboring countries.  The draft measure would appropriate $757.652 MILLION for the USAID's IDA account.  This would be a cut of $105.618 MILLION (or 12.2 percent) in FY '12 relative to the $863.270 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for the IDA account in fiscal year 2011. Finally, the draft measure would bar funding to the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA), which assists Palestinian refugees, unless the Secretary of State certifies that seven conditions are complied with.  The Subcommittee markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in Room H-140 of the U.S. capitol Building.     This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up Bill to Create a Special Envoy on Religious Liberty: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 440, a measure to direct the President of the United States to appoint a Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.    Under the measure, the newly created position of Envoy would hold the rank of ambassador and could not hold another federal government position at the same time.  He or she would have the duty to (1) promote the right of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia, denounce the violation of such right, and recommend appropriate responses by the United States Government when such right is violated; (2) monitor and combat acts of religious intolerance and incitement targeted against religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia; (3) work to ensure that the unique needs of religious minority communities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia are addressed, including the economic and security needs of such communities to the extent that such needs are directly tied to religious-based discrimination and persecution; (4) work with foreign governments of the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia to address laws that are inherently discriminatory toward religious minority communities in such countries; (5) coordinate and assist in the preparation of that portion of the report required by sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)) relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia; and (6) coordinate and assist in the preparation of that portion of the report required by section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)) relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia. The version of H.R. 440 that the House will vote on would authorize the envoy to represent the United States in matters related to religious freedom in contact with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, specialized United Nations' Agencies and multilateral conferences, and meetings relevant to religious freedom.  The measure also would direct the envoy to give priority to programs for Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Finally, the measure would authorize $1 MILLION each year for the envoy and his staff and directs the secretary of State to offset the amount with equivalent staff reductions elsewhere in the department.     The House of Representatives is scheduled to take up H.R. 440 on Monday, July 25, 2011.   House to Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full House of Representatives this week could take up the House Amendments to S. 627, a measure providing for an increase in the federal debt limit and establishing a process for making cuts in the federal deficit. The House debt measure does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  However, if enacted into law, it would place downward pressure on both discretionary and entitlement spending, which could result in significant cuts in immigration- and refugee-related spending.yet-to-be-introduced legislation to increase the debt limit and make reductions in spending.  The House could take up measure at any time.   Senate Could Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full Senate this week could take up the House Amendments to S. 627, a measure providing for an increase in the federal debt limit and establishing a process for making cuts in the federal deficit.  The Senate also could take up its own debt relief measure, embodied in a Reid Substitute to S. 1323.  The Senate bill does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  However, if enacted into law, it would place downward pressure on discretionary spending while not addressing entitlement spending.  This downward pressure on spending could result in significant cuts in immigration- and refugee-related spending. The Senate is not expected to act until after the House has disposed of its debt limit bill. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: President Obama Remarks at NCLR Annual Convention: President Barack Obama is scheduled this week to deliver keynote remarks at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference.  While his remarks are expected to be wide-ranging, it is anticipated that he will devote a substantial part of them to the subject of immigration. The President's remarks are scheduled for 12:30 pm EDT on Monday, July 25, 2011, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Discussion on Human Trafficking: The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2011: Findings and Recommendations."  Participants in the discussion will include Luis Cde Baca, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department. The discussion is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Workshop on Rights and Extremism Confronting Latinos: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) has scheduled a workshop for this week during its 2011 annual conference titled, "Protecting Our Rights, Confronting the Extremists".  The workshop is is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at  the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Panel Discussion on Using the National Guard for Border Security: The Heritage Foundation has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "Beyond the Border: The Future of the National Guard in Homeland Security."  Participants in the discussion will include Representative Tim Walz (D-MN); Al Garver, Executive Director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States; Command Sgt. Maj. John Gipe, Senior Enlisted Adviser and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; and Jena Baker McNeill, Heritage Senior Policy Analyst for Homeland Security. The discussion is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in the Washington, DC Offices of the Heritage Foundation. Panel Discussions on Human Trafficking:  Children Uniting Nations this week is scheduled to hold its sixth annual DC National Conference on "Keeping the Promise to Our Children," a forum on how laws can better serve America's children.  The conference will conduct a number of panels on human trafficking during the conference.  Participants will include Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Representative Karen Bass (D-CA), and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA). The conference panel presentations are scheduled to begin at 9:30 am EDT on Tbursday, July 28, 2011, at the Capitol Visitor Center in the U.S. Capitol Building.

Week of July 18, 2011 House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill Aimed at Overcoming Supreme Court Decision on Identity Theft House Foreign Affairs to Mark Up Bill That Traditionally Authorizes Funding for Refugee Admissions and Assistance House to Take Up Debt and Deficit Relief Bill that Could Have Consequences for Immigration and Refugee Spending Senate to Take Up Amendments to its First Appropriations Bill of the Fiscal Year This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, no hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined. This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Foreign Affairs Committee to Mark Up Bill that Traditionally Authorizes Funding for Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance: The House Committee on the Foreign Affairs this week is scheduled to mark up H.R. 2583, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, a measure that sometimes is referred to as the State Department Authorization Bill.  Included in the bill are provisions that would reauthorize funding for the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), which administers the federal government's refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance program, at $1.690 BILLION, roughly the same amount appropriated in fiscal year 2011. The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, continuing into Thursday, July 21, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program: The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up  H.R. 704, the "SAFE for America Act", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) to eliminate the diversity visa program.  Numerous amendments are expected to be offered to the bill during the markup session. The markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Make it Easier for Prosecutors to Convict Illegal Immigrants of Felony Identify Theft: The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up H.R. 2552, the "Identify Theft Improvement Act of 2011", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), a bill 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 markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House office Building.       This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up a Symbolic "Cut, Cap, and Balance" Deficit and Debt Reduction Bill with Uncertain Immigration and Refugee Consequences: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 2560, the "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011".  At the time of this writing, the bill had just been introduced, and the text had just become widely available.  A quick analysis indicates that the measure would provide for an increase in the nation's debt limit by $2.4 TRILLION, but only if Congress sends a Constitutional Amendment mandating a balanced budget to the states for ratification.  The measure also would cap total federal spending at 22.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in fiscal year 2012 and gradually reduce that level to 19.9 percent of GDP by 2021. From an immigration and refugee perspective, the biggest impact of the bill would likely come from its statutory discretionary and entitlement spending caps and its sequestration provisions.  Under those provisions, the bill would require $111 BILLION in unspecified spending reductions in FY 2012, it would impose hard caps on the amount of discretionary funds that can be appropriated in future years, as well as hard caps on the amount of funding that can be provided to entitlement programs during those years.  Under the bill, if the caps are breached and Congress does not correct the breach, there would be an automatic "sequestration" of funds, cutting all spending by whatever across-the-board amount is necessary to ensure that spending is under the cap amount.   The full House of Representatives is tentatively scheduled to take up H.R. 2560 on Tuesday, July 19, 2011.  At the time of this writing, it was unclear what the parliamentary procedure will be for House consideration of the measure. Full Senate to Take Up Amendments to Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: The full Senate this week is expected to continue its consideration of the Senate Appropriations Committee-approved Version of H.R. 2055, the Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.  The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its version of the measure on Thursday, June 30, 2011.  In doing so, it stripped from the House-passed version of H.R. 2055 a provision, found in section 414 of the House-passed version of H.R. 2055, that would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees.  The provision was stripped in the Chairman's Mark of the bill that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies approved on Wednesday, June 29, 2011.  The Senate Democratic Leadership is urging senators to limit amendments to the bill to germane amendments.  However, immigration-related floor amendments are possible. The Senate is expected to resume its consideration of H.R. 2055 on Monday, July 18, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Discussion on State and Local Government Enforcement of Immigration Laws. The New America Foundation has scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Should the States Take on Immigration?"  Included will be sessions on "The Improbable Laboratories of Immigration Policy" and on "SB 1070, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and E-Verify: The Founding Fathers View". The discussion is scheduled for 8:30 am EDT on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Event on Human Trafficking: The Deparment of Homeland Security has scheduled an event for this week highlighting CBP's "No Te Enganes" (Don't be Fooled) campaign to raise awareness among potential migrants, informing them of the dangers of human trafficking.  Participants in the event will include Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deputy Director Kumar Kibble; Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar; and Senior Counselor to the Homeland Security Secretary Alice Hill. The event is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in the offices of the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau. Briefing on Mandatory E-Verify: The Cato Instititue has scheduled a briefing for today titled, "Immigration Reform, Yes; E-Verify No."  Participants in the briefing will include Dan Griswold, Director of the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute; Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies at the Cato Institute; and Laura Renz, Government Affairs Manager at the Cato Institute. The briefing is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Room B-369 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Press Conference on the HALT Act: Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, has organized a press conference for this week to to release a letter in opposition to H.R. 2596, the HALT (Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation) Act”, a measure that would prohibit President Obama and his administration from granting a number of forms of relief from removal, as well as prohibit the Obama Administration from exercizing its authority to designate countries for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), during the remainder of the Obama first term. Participants in the press conference will include Representatives Gutierrez, Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX), Hank Johnson (D-GA), and Jared Polis (D-CO). The press conference is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, July 21, 2011, in Room H-321 of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Week of July 11, 2011 House Judiciary Committee to Markup Bill Providing for the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program House Appropriations Committee to Mark Up FY '12 Bill that Funds the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Senate Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing on Terrorist Travel House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on Maritime Border Security House to Take Up FY '12 Energy and Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision Full House to Take Up FY '12 Financial Services Bill Containing Controversial Cuba Immigration and Remittance Provisions This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Panel Hearing on Maritime Border Security: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a hearing for this week, "Protecting the Maritime Borders -- Leveraging Law Enforcement Cooperation to Enhance Security Along America's Coasts."  The witness list for the hearing includes Michael Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of CBP Air & Marine; Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship; and Tim Donnellon, Sheriff, St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, Michigan. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. Senate Panel to Hold Hearing on Terrorist Travel: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is planning a hearing for this week titled, 'Ten Years After 9/11: Preventing Terrorist Travel."  The hearing will examine the security processes for visa recipients and refugee applicants, focusing on the progress that has been made, as well as the challenges that remain in identifying, preventing, and interdicting terrorist travel.  As such, it will examine the security of our visa issuing process for immigrants and nonimmigrants, the passenger pre-screening and screening programs that have been implemented to secure international flights bound for the United States, and our watchlisting systems.  The witness list for the hearing includes Rand Beers, Undersecretary of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate; Janice L. Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs; and David F. Heyman, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Policy. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on the Violence Against Women Act: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Violence Against Women Act.  The title of the hearing is, "The Violence Against Women Act: Building on Seventeen Years of Accomplishments."  The witness list for the hearing will include Phillip C. McGraw, Los Angeles, CA; Michael Shaw, Co-Director, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, Waypoint, Cedar Rapids, IA; Jane Van Buren, Executive Director, Women Helping Battered Women, Burlington, VT; Julie Poner, Indianapolis, IN; Eileen Larence, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Natural Resources Panel to Hold Hearing on Immigration Issues in the Northern Mariana Islands: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week on H.R. 1466, the "Consolidated Natural Resources Act", which would resolve the status of certain persons legally residing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the immigration laws of the United States; and H.R. 44, the "Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act."  The witness list for the hearing includes Benigno Repeki Fitial, Governor, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Eddie Baza Calvo, governor, Guam; David Gootnik, Director, International Affairs and Trade Issues, Government Accountability Office; Kelly Ryan, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Border Security, Office of Policy; Nik Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; Marian Aldan-Pierce, President, Duty-Free Shops Saipan Limited; Hazel Doctor, Resident, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (testifying on HR 1466 by videoconference); Nik Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; Mauricio Tamargo, Former Chairman, Guam War Claims Review Commission, and Former Chairman, U.S. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission; and Former Rep. Ben Blaz, (R-Guam, 1983-93). The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, 2011, in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building. This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Appropriations Committee to Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill: The full House Committee on Appropriations this week is scheduled to markup its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill in mid July.  Each year, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Justice, including appropriations for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), an agency within the Department.  The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies marked up its version of the measure on Tuesday, July 7, 2011. The full Committee markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  House Panel to Mark Up Border Security Technology Innovation Act:  The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation has scheduled a markup of a yet-to-be-introduced measure titled the "Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2011".  The markup is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Resume Markup of Bill on the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens:  The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to resume its markup 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 Committee began marking up the Bill on Thursday, July 7, 2011, however it halted the markup before it could take up any amendments to the measure. The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Markup of Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program: The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up  H.R. 704, the "SAFE for America Act", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) to eliminate the diversity visa program. The markup is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Friday, July 15, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House office Building.     Senate Appropriations Committee Panel to Markup Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: While not on the official schedule at the time of this writing, it is possible that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Appropriations could move as soon as this week to mark up the version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Subcommittee and Committee once contemplated marking up the measure during the week of June 27, 2011, however, the markup was never placed on the Calendar and was not held.  The markup could be rescheduled for any time.    This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up FY '12 Energy-Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision: The full House of Representatives this week is expected to resume its consideration of H.R. 2354, the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy, Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which contains a provision barring the hiring of federal employees unless their employment eligibility is verified through the E-Verify System.  The House began considering H.R. 2354 on Friday, July 8, 2011, but it did not take up any amendments to the measure at that time.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to resume its consideration of H.R. 2354 beginning on Monday, July 11, 2011. Full House to Take Up FY '12 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill Containing a Number of Immigration Provisions: The full House of Representatives next week is expected to take up H.R. 2434, the Fiscal Year 2012 Financial Services, General Government, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which contains several immigraton-related provisions.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to take up H.R. 2434 beginning on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: White House Hispanic Policy Conference: The White House is hosting a Hispanic Policy Conference this week, during which it will bring community leaders from across the country to discuss a broad range of issues with cabinet officials and senior White House staff.  Among the sessions scheduled for the conference is one titled, "Fixing America's Broken Immigration System".  Participants in that session will include Felicia Escobar, Senior Advisor for Immigration Policy, White House Domestic Policy Council; and Margo Schlanger, Director, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Department of Homeland Security. The Sessions are scheduled from 8:15 am until 4:15 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011, and Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in the White House. Press Conference on the DREAM Act: Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) will hold a press conference this week with relgious leaders in which he will announce plans for a "DREAM Act Sabbeth", in which churches, synagogues and mosques around the country will be enlisted to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act.  Among the participants in the press conference will be Cardinal Theordore McCarrick, retired Catholic Archbishop of Washington. which will enlist churches, synagogues and mosques around the country to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act.  Among the participants in the press conference will be Cardinal Theordore McCarrick, retired Catholic Archbishop of Washington. The press conference is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Room S-115 of the U.S. Capitol Building. Briefing on Human Rights in Cuba: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) has scheduled a briefing for this week on human rights in Cuba.  Participants in the briefing will include Reina Loina Tamayo, mother of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a Cuban political prisoner who died in February 2010 after enduring a months-long hunger strike while incarcerated in Cuban jails. The panel briefing is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. News Conference on E-Verify: The Center for American Progress has scheduled a news conference call for this week to discuss the effects of the E-Verify immigration enforcement tool. Participants in the news conference will include Angela M. Kelley, Vice President, Immigration Policy and Advocacy, Center for American Progress; Philip E. Wolgin, Immigration Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress; and Irma D. Herrera, Editor, New America Media. The news conference call is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Tuesday, July 13, 2011, in Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Panel Presentation on Displaced Young Persons: The Urban Institute has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "Young and Displaced - A Multinational Look at Youth on Their Own, as Refugees, on the Run, and In Need of Help."  Participants in the discussion will include Lavinia Limon, President & CEO of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; John Monahan, Special Adviser for Global Health Partnerships at the State Department; Matthew Stagner, Executive Director of Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; and Olivia Golden, Urban Institute Fellow and Former Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at the Health and Human Services Department. The  panel presentation is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Urban Institute. News Conference on Republican Efforts to Strip President Obama of Discretionary Immigration Relief Powers: Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) has organized a press conference for this week to  discuss legislation which could restrict the immigration enforcement powers of the President.  Participants in the briefing will include Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-IL) Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Ruben Jinojosa (D-TX), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Howard L. Berman (D-CA), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). The  press conference is scheduled for 9:00 am am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in Room B-318 of the U.S. Capitol Building. Briefing on Labor Standards Enforcement and Illegal Immigration: The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has scheduled a conference call briefing for this week to discuss a new MPI report on labor standards enforcement and the role it could play in reducing illegal immigration.  Participants in the briefing will include Don Kerwin, MPI Vice President for Programs and author of the report. The  conference call briefing is scheduled for 11:30 am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011. News Conference on Public Attitudes About Border Security: Sky Island Alliance has scheduled a news conference to discuss a new poll measuring public attitudes on border security.  Participants in the news conference will include Melanie Emerson, Executive Director, Sky Island Alliance; Thom Riehle, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, YouGov; Monica Stewart, Chairwoman, Texas Border Coalition Border Security Committee; Bill Snape, Senior Counsel, Center for Biological Diversity; Krista Schyler, International League of Conservation Photographers; and Athan Manuel, Director, Lands Protection Program, Sierra Club. The news conference is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Week of July 4, 2011 Senate Cancel's Planned July 4 Recess and Will Be in Session This Week House Judiciary Committee Scheduled (Yet Again) to Take Up Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens Bill House Appropriations Panel to Take Up FY '12 Bill that Funds the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) House to Take Up FY '12 Department of Defense Spending Bill Containing Several Immigration Provisions House to Take Up FY '12 Energy and Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and Committee Could Mark Up FY '12 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Panel Hearing on Protecting U.S. Jobs and the Homeland: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Homeland Security Investigations: Examining DHS's (Homeland Security Department) Efforts to Protect American Jobs and Secure the Homeland." The witness list for the hearing will include Brian Toohey, President, Semiconductor Industry Association; Michael Russo, Director for Global Security and Product Protection, Eli Lilly and Co.; Mario Mancuso, Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP; and Jena Baker McNeill, Senior Policy Analyst for Homeland Security, Heritage Foundation. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees to Hold Joint Hearing on the Consequences of a Failed State in Somalia: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights and its Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade have scheduled a joint hearing for this week titled "Assessing the Consequences of the Failed State of Somalia."  The witness list for the hearing will include  Donald Y. Yamamoto, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs; Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs, U.S. Agency for International Development; Reuben Brigety, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration; J. Peter Pham, director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council; Bronwyn Bruton, Fellow, One World Foundation; Marrtin Murphy, Visiting Fellow, Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy, King's College, London; and David H. Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. The hearing is scheduled for 12:30 pm EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room 2212 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Subcomittee to Hold Hearing on Border Security Issues on Public Lands: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands has scheduled a legislative hearing for this week on two bills relating to border security issues on public lands.  The two measures that are the subject of the hearing are H.R. 1505, the "National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act"; and H.R. 587, the "Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2011".  The witness list of those testifying on H.R. 1505 includes Jim Pena, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Kim Thorsen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management; Claude E. Guyant, Founding Member, National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers; Gary Thrasher, Arizona Cattle Growers Association, Public Lands Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association; and John D. Leshy, law professor, Hastings College of the Law, University of California.  The witness list of those testifying on H.R. 587 includes Jim Pena, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Kim Thorsen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management; and Dale Penny, CEO, Student Conservation Association. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Friday, July 8, 2011, in Room 1334 of the Longworth House Office Building. This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Judiciary Committee Likely to Markup Bill on the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens:  The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up 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 markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Appropriations Subcommittee to Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies is scheduled this week to markup its yet-to-be-introduced version of the Fiscal year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Justice, including appropriations for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL), and the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), all agencies within the Department of Justice. The Subcommittee markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room H-309 of the U.S. Capitol Building.  Senate Appropriations Committee Panel to Markup Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: While not on the official schedule at the time of this writing, it is possible that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Appropriations could move as soon as this week to mark up the version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Subcommittee and Committee once contemplated marking up the measure during the week of June 27, 2011, however, the markup was never placed on the Calendar and was not held.  Now that the Senate has canceled its July 4 recess, a markup could be scheduled at any time.    This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Resume Consideration of Defense Appropriations Bill Containing Several Familar Immigration-Related Provisions. The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 2219, the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which contains several immigration-related provisions and could be the target for immigration-related amendments on the House floor.  Among the immigration-related provisions in the House Appropriations Committee-reported version of the bill are those that would bar use of funds in contravention of U.S. laws and regulations implementing the U.N. Torture Convention and provisions prohibiting the transfer into the United States or to other countries of Guantanamo detainees.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to resume consideration of H.R. 2219 beginning on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, possibly continuing into Thursday, July 7. Full House to Take Up Energy-Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision. The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 2354, the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy, Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which contains a provision barring the hiring of federal employees unless their employment eligibility is verified through the E-Verify System.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to take up H.R. 2354 on Friday, July 8, 2011.  However, it may not consider amendments to the measure until next week. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Presentation on Foreign Adoptions: The Center for American Progress this week is sponsoring the 2011 Campus Progress National Conference, at which participants will discuss a number of issues, including comprehensive immigration reform, Administration discretion to provide relief to illegal immigrants, and the DREAM Act.  Participants in the conference will include Former President Bill Clinton; Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change; Gaby Pacheco, Education Not Deportation (E.N.D.) National Coordinator, United We DREAM; and Jose Antonio Vargas, Multimedia Journalist who recently revealed he is an illegal immigrant. The conference is scheduled for Wednesay, July 6, 2011 through Thursday, July 6, 2011. Panel Presentation on Foreign Adoptions: The National Council for Adoption this week is scheduled to hold a forum on foreign adoptions during its 2011 National Adoption Conference.  Participants in the event will include Tiffany Murphy of the State Department; Whitney Reitz and Carrie Rankin of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Donna Campagnolo of the National Benefits Center; and Bill Rosen, adoption attorney. The panel presentation is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in Nathional Harbor, MD. President Obama Town Hall Meeting: President Obama this week is scheduled to participate in a Town Hall Meeting via Twitter, the popular microblogging platform.  The discussion is expected to concentrate on economic issues.  However, some immigration-related questions are possible. The Town Hall is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, and will be held in the East Room of the White House. News Conference on the U.S. Border and the Environment: The Sierra Club, the Pew Environment Group, the Wilderness Society, the Center for American Progress and Defenders of Wildlife have scheduled a news conference for this week to highlight concerns about a bill to allow Homeland Security Department personnel to waive environmental rules within 100 miles of the U.S. border.  Participants in the press conference will include House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Democrat Edward Markey (D-MA); Representative Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). The panel presentation is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Friday, July 8, 2011, in Room 234 of the Cannon House Office Building.

Week of June 27, 2011 House in Recess While Senate Remains Behind Secretaries Napolitano and Duncan to Testify at Senate Judiciary Pannel Hearing on the DREAM Act Department of State to Release 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Senate Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on the DREAM Act: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security has scheduled a hearing for today on S. 952, the DREAM Act, a measure introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) which is intended to give undocumented students a chance to earn legal status if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good standing. Two panels of witnesses will testify at the hearing The witness list for the first panel includes Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.  The witness list for the second panel includes Ola Kaso, Warren, Michigan; Retired Lt. Colonel Margaret Stock , U.S. Army Reserves, Anchorage, Alaska; and Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.     This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, no markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences,   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Secretary of State Clinton to 2011 Unveil Traffficking Report: The U.S. Department of State has scheduled an event for this week at which the Department will unveil the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.  Participants in the event will include Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero, and Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Luis CdeBaca. The event is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Monday, May 27, 2011,  at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.   Department of Education Press Conference on the DREAM Act: The U.S. Department of Education has scheduled a telephonic news conference for this week in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.  Participants in the news conference will include Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Margaret Stock, former professor, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The news conference is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, May 27, 2011. Briefing for Foreign Press on Trafficking Report: Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Luis CdeBaca is planning a briefing for this week of foreign press on the Department of State's 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.  The news briefing is scheduled for 4:30 pm EDT on Monday, May 27, 2011, at the Washington Foreign Press Center, National Press Building, in Washington, DC. Gay and Lesbian Immigration Issues:  National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey is scheduled to deliver remarks this week on "Advancing Equality in Employment and Immigration." The event is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Telephonic Press Conference on E-Verify Legislation:  The Competitive Enterprise Institute will hold a news conference call this week on H.R. 2164, the "Legal Workforce Act", legislation that would require all employers to use E-Verify.  Participants in the news conference call will include Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy; Former Representative Bob Barr (R-GA); Mike Flynn, Editor, BigGovernment.com; Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, Cato Institute; and Alex Nowrasteh, Policy Analyst, Competitive Enterprise. The event is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 30, 2011.

Week of June 20, 2011 Members, Senators, and Refugee Advocates Plan Events to Commemorate World Refugee Day House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill Providing for Mandatory Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill Making it Easier to Deny and Revoke Visas House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill on Nonimmigrant Nurses Variety of Immigration Floor Amendments (Still) Poised to be Offered to Senate Economic Development Bill Immigration-Related Floor Amendments Possible as Full House Takes Up FY '12 DOD Appropriations Bill This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, no hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined.       This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Judiciary Committee to Markup Bill on the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens: The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a markup for this week 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 markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.    House Judiciary Committee to Markup of Visa Security Bill: The House Committee on the Judiciary has schedued a markup for this week of H.R. 1741, the "Secure Visas Act", which was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX). The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Judiciary Committee to Markup of Nurses Visa Bill: The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1933, legislation that would extend authorization for the H-1C nonimmigrant nurses program. The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.      This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full Senate to Take Up Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Bill with Five Immigration Floor Amendments Possible: Sometime after the Senate convenes on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, the Senate is expected to resume its consideration of S. 782, the Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011.  While the measure, itself, does not contain any immigration- or refugee-related provisions, at the time of this writing, at least five immigration- or refugee-related amendments to the bill had been filed and could be offered at any time. Two of the five immigration- or border security-related amendments to S. 782 that have been filed are familiar ones for the Senate, which has dealt with both before: DeMINT BORDER FENCING AMENDMENT.  Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has filed SA 421, an amendment that would provide that the construction of the 700 miles of fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico that is required by Section 102(b)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 be must be completed within one year after the date of enactment of the Act; provide that fencing that does not effectively restrain pedestrian traffic cannot be used to satisfy the 700-mile requirement; suspend any requirement that the Department of Homeland Security consult with local communities in the construction of fencing; and require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on the Department's progress in meeting the requirements of the amendment. On July 8, 2009, the Senate agreed to a similar amendment offered by Senator DeMint to H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate defeated the amendment at that time by a vote of 54-44.  However, the language was dropped in the ensuing conference between the House and the Senate. Most recently, on May 27, 2010, Senator DeMint offered a nearly identical version of SA 421 to H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 supplemental appropriations bill.  The Senate defeated the amendment at that time by a vote of 45-52.   LEAHY EB-5 INVESTOR VISA REGIONAL CENTER AMENDMENT.  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has filed SA 419, an amendment that would permanently reauthorize the EB-5 Investor Visa Regional Center program, which otherwise is set to expire on September 30, 2012. On July 8, 2009, the Senate agreed to a nearly identical amendment offered by Chairman Leahy H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate agreed to the amendment by a voice vote.  However, the language was dropped in the ensuing conference between the House and the Senate. Three of the five immigration- or border security-related amendments to S. 782 are relatively new: FEINSTEIN SCAAP AMENDMENT.  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has filed SA 456, an amendment that would expand the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) to permit reimbursement to state and local governments for the incarceration of aliens who are charged with a felony or two misdemeanors.  Under current law, the SCAAP program is limited to reimbursements for the incarceration of aliens who have been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors. FEINSTEIN NO FIREARMS FOR FOREIGN FELONS AMENDMENT.  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has filed SA 455, an amendment that would amend Title 18, United States Code, to prohibit persons convicted of certain felonies in foreign courts from purchasing firearms. GRASSLEY PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF E-VERIFY AMENDMENT.  Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Minority Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) has filed SA 434, an amendment that would permanently reauthorize the E-Verify Program, which otherwise is set to expire on September 30, 2012. The Senate is expected to resume consideration of S. 782 on Tuesday, June 21, 2011.   Full House to Take Up Defense Appropriations Bill Containing Several Familar Immigration-Related Provisions. The full House of Representatives in the coming week is expected to take up H.R. 2219, the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which contains several immigration-related provisions and could be the target for immigration-related amendments on the House floor.  Among the immigration-related provisions in the House Appropriations Committee-reported version of the bill are those that would bar use of funds in contravention of U.S. laws and regulations implementing the U.N. Torture Convention and provisions prohibiting the transfer into the United States or to other countries of Guantanamo detainees The House is expected to take up H.R. 2219 beginning on Thursday, June 23, 2011.   Menendez to Introduce Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill:  Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is planning this week to introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill.  The text of the measure was not available at the time of this writing.   The bill is likely to be introduced sometime on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Discussion on the Hispanic Population and the 2012 Elections:  NDN has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled,  "What the 2010 Census Means for the 2012 Elections."  Participants in the discussion will include Morley Winograd, Fellow, NDN; Joel Kotkin, Author; Carlos Odio, Director of Special Projects, New Organizing Institute; and Alicia Menendez (moderator), Senior Adviser, NDN. The panel discussion is scheduled for 5:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 20, 2011, at the Washington, DC offices of NDN.     UNHCR Reception for World Refugee Day:  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is sponsoring a reception for this week to commemorate World Refugee Day 2011.  Remarks will be made by Eric Schwartz, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM); Vincent Cochetel, Regional Representative, UNHCR; and Dan Kosten, Charman, Refugee Council USA and Vice-President of Programs, World Relief. The reception is scheduled for 4:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 20, 2011, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.   Photo Exhibition in Commemoration of World Refugee Day:  Refugee Council USA is sponsoring a photo exhibition this week to commemorate World Refugee Day.  The event "will honor some of the doctors, nurses, faith leaders, lawyers, business owners, farmers, case workers, teachers, and many others who welcome refugees into their communities and whose commitment to service helps keep America's great light of hope burning bright for the oppressed around the world." The photo exhibition is scheduled to take place from 9:00 am EDT until 4:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in the Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building. Panel Discussion on the REAL ID Act and Driver's Licenses:  The Heritage Foundation and the Coalition for a Secure Drivers License have scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Making Real ID a Reality: Next Steps for Congress."  Participants in the discussion will include Representative F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI); Julie Myers Wood, president, ICS Consulting LLC and Immigration and Customs Solutions LLC, and former assistant secretary of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Jack Martin, special projects director, Federation for American Immigration Reform; Brian Zimmer, President of the Coalition for a Secure Drivers License; and Jena Baker McNeill, Senior Policy Analyst of Homeland Security at the Heritage Foundation. The discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in the Washington, DC Offices of the Heritage Foundation. Menendez to Hold Press Conference Announcing Introduction of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill:  Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has scheduled a press conference for this week to announce the introdution of a comprehensive immigration reform bill.  The text of the measure was not available at the time of this writing.   The press conference is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in the Senate Radio-TV Gallery. Reception for World Refugee Day:  Refugee Council USA is sponsoring a Capitol Hill reception this week to commemorate World Refugee Day.  Sponsors and participants will include House foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Minority Member Howard Berman (D-CA); Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL); Representative Gary Peters (D-MI); Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA); Sarah Costa, Executive Director, Women's Refugee Commission; Dr. Katherine Yun, Yale School of Medicine; and Demisse Abebe, Executive Director, TASSC International. The reception is scheduled for 5:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in Room B354 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Plenary on Student Visas:  The U.S. Department of State this week is hosting a plenary on student visas as part of its EducationUSA Forum.  Among the participants in the plenary will be Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Michael Kirby. The plenary on student visas is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

Week of June 13, 2011 House Judiciary Committee Chairman to Introduce Mandatory E-Verify Bill Senator Leahy and Representative Lofgren to Introduce Refugee Protection Act House Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on Lamar Smith Mandatory E-Verify Bill House Foreign Affairs Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on Trafficking Victim Protection Immigration and Border Floor Amendments Possible on Senate Economic Development Bill Plethora of Immigration-Related Off-of-the-Hill Activity Fills Week Schedule This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Foreign Affairs Panel to Hold Hearing on Trafficking Victims Protection: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights has scheduled a hearing for this week titled Best Practices and Next Steps: A New Decade in the Fight Against Human Trafficking".  Among the witnesses invited to testify at the hearing is Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons,  U.S. Department of State.  Other witnesses will include The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 13, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on U.S. Port and Maritime Border Security: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Securing the Nation's Ports and Maritime Border - A Review of the Coast Guard Post 9/11 Homeland Security Missions."  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on Smith E-Verify Bill: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on H.R. 2164, the "Legal Workforce Act", which is House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith's long-awaited bill mandating that virtually all employers in the United States use an electronic employment verification system (EEVS) to verify the employment eligibility of their newhires.  Testifying at the hearing will be Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA), the creator of the E-Verify program; Barry Rutenberg, First Vice Chairman, National Association of Home Builders; Craig S. Miller, Former President and CEO, Ruth's Chris Steak House; and Tyler Moran, Policy Director, National Immigration Law Center. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   Senate Caucus to Hold "Hearing" on Border Tunnels: The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control has scheduled a "hearing" for this week titled, "Illegal Tunnels on the Southwest Border." Testifying at the hearing will be James Dinkens, Executive Associate Director, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; Laura Duffy, U.S. attorney, Southern District of California; and Tim Durst, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, San Diego Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security. The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT, Wednesday, June 15, 2011, in Room SD-562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.       This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, no markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences.     This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs  Appropriations Bill: The full House of Representatives is likely to take up H.R. 2055, its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, shortly after returning to Washington from a one week-long recess that ends on Monday, June 13, 2011. Each year, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for military construction and the Veterans Administration.  From an immigration perspective, the only immigration-related provision that is included in the House Appropriations Committee-reported version of H.R. 2055 is Section 415, which would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. The House is scheduled to take up H.R. 2055 on Monday, June 13, 2011. Full Senate to Take Up Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Bill with Five Immigration Floor Amendments Possible: When the Senate convenes on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, the Senate is expected to resume its consideration of S. 782, the Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011.  While the measure, itself, does not contain any immigration- or refugee-related provisions, at the time of this writing, at least five immigration- or refugee-related amendments to the bill had been filed and could be offered at any time. Two of the five immigration- or border security-related amendments to S. 782 that have been filed are familiar ones for the Senate, which has dealt with both before: DeMINT BORDER FENCING AMENDMENT.  Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has filed SA 421, an amendment that would provide that the construction of the 700 miles of fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico that is required by Section 102(b)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 be must be completed within one year after the date of enactment of the Act; provide that fencing that does not effectively restrain pedestrian traffic cannot be used to satisfy the 700-mile requirement; suspend any requirement that the Department of Homeland Security consult with local communities in the construction of fencing; and require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on the Department's progress in meeting the requirements of the amendment. On July 8, 2009, the Senate agreed to a similar amendment offered by Senator DeMint to H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate defeated the amendment at that time by a vote of 54-44.  However, the language was dropped in the ensuing conference between the House and the Senate. Most recently, on May 27, 2010, Senator DeMint offered a nearly identical version of SA 421 to H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 supplemental appropriations bill.  The Senate defeated the amendment at that time by a vote of 45-52.   LEAHY EB-5 INVESTOR VISA REGIONAL CENTER AMENDMENT.  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has filed SA 419, an amendment that would permanently reauthorize the EB-5 Investor Visa Regional Center program, which otherwise is set to expire on September 30, 2012. On July 8, 2009, the Senate agreed to a nearly identical amendment offered by Chairman Leahy H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate agreed to the amendment by a voice vote.  However, the language was dropped in the ensuing conference between the House and the Senate. Three of the five immigration- or border security-related amendments to S. 782 are relatively new: FEINSTEIN SCAAP AMENDMENT.  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has filed SA 456, an amendment that would expand the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) to permit reimbursement to state and local governments for the incarceration of aliens who are charged with a felony or two misdemeanors.  Under current law, the SCAAP program is limited to reimbursements for the incarceration of aliens who have been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors. FEINSTEIN NO FIREARMS FOR FOREIGN FELONS AMENDMENT.  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has filed SA 455, an amendment that would amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit persons convicted of certain felonies in foreign courts from purchasing firearms. GRASSLEY PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF E-VERIFY AMENDMENT.  Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Minority Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) has filed SA 434, an amendment that would permanently reauthorize the E-Verify Program, which otherwise is set to expire on September 30, 2012. The Senate is expected to resume consideration of S. 782 on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. House Judiciary Chairman to Introduce Mandatory E-Verify Bill:  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) is likely this week to introduce the "Legal Workforce Act", a bill that reportedly will make the use of the E-Verify System mandatory for most employees. The bill could be introduced as soon as Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Leahy and Lofgren to Introduce the Refugee Protection Act:  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Ranking Minority Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) are planning this week to introduce the Refugee Protection Act, a measure that would make a number of reforms in U.S. law to protect refugee and asylum applicants.   The bill is likely to be introduced sometime on Thursday, June 16, 2011.   This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Roundtable Discussion on Migration and the Great Recession:  The Migration Policy Institute has scheduled a roundtable discussion for this week to exanmine the impact of the economic crisis in seven major recipients of international migrants: the United States, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.  Participants in the discussion will include Demetrios Papademetriou, MPI President; Madeleine Sumption, MPI Policy Analyst; Aaron Terrazas, MPI Policy Analyst; Chad Stone, Chief Economist, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; and Gallya Lahav, Associate Professor of Political Science, State University of New York at Stony Brook. The discussion is scheduled for 12:00 pm EDT on Monday, June 13, 2011, at the Washington Offices of the Migration Policy Institute. Press Conference on Immigration Policy and the DREAM Act:  Presente.org has scheduled a telephonic news conference for this week , during which participants are expected to call on President Obama to use his executive power to halt deportation of undocumented youths eligible for the DREAM Act.  Participants in the press conference will include Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL); Esmeralda Hidalgo, DREAM Act-eligible student; Laurie Ignacio, campaign manager, Presente.org; Carlos Santiago, CEO, Hispanic College Fund; Angelo Falcon, president, National Institute for Latino Policy; and Jose Rodriguez, spokesperson, Dominican Human Rights Center in Puerto Rico. The press conference is scheduled for 12:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 13, 2011.   Roundtable Discussion on the Integration of Immigrants into the United States: The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Immigrants in the United States: How Well Are They Integrating into Society?"  Participants in the discussion will include Randy Capps, senior policy analyst of the Migration Policy Institute; Tamar Jacoby, president and CEO of ImmigrationWorks USA; and Tomas Jimenez, assistant professor of Stanford University. The discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. Discussion on Helping the World's Refugees:  Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration Eric Schwartz and George Rupp, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, have scheduled a discussion for this week on “Helping the World's Refugees.”  The discussion will be moderated by Cheryl Benton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. You are invited to participate by submitting questions, some of which will be selected for response during the live broadcast. Submit your questions now on DipNote. The discussion is scheduled to begin at 10:15 am EDT on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Dinner Honoring Immigrant Contributions: The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Merage Foundation for the American Dream has scheduled its eighth annual National Leadership awards dinner honoring immigrant contributions for this week. Participants will include former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez; Anousheh Ansari, co-founder and CEO of Prodea Systems; Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director of the Center for Community Change; Erik Kandel, Professor at Columbia University; and Fareed Zakaria, CNN host. The Dinner is scheduled for 6:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the National Press Club, in Washington, DC. Panel Presentation on U.S. Immigration Policy:   The Council on Foreign Relations has scheduled a panel presentation titled, "Immigration as an Economic Engine" at its Symposium on U.S. Immigration Policy.  Particpants in the panel presentation will include USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas; Vivek Wadhwa, Senior Research Associate, Labor and Worklife Program, Harvard Law School; Edward Alden, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; and Matthew Winkler (Presider), Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg News. The panel presentation is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the Washington, DC offices of the Council on Foreign Relations.   Panel Presentation at Symposium on U.S. Immigration Policy:  The Council on Foreign Relations has scheduled a panel presentation titled, "Political Pathways for Progress" at its Symposium on U.S. Immigration Policy.  Participants in the panel presentation will be House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Ranking Minority Member David Price (D-NC); Alfonso Aguilar, Executive Director, Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles; Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center; Edward Schumacher-Matos (Presider), Ombudsman, NPR. The panel presentation is scheduled for 11:25 am EDT on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the Washington, DC offices of the Council on Foreign Relations.         Remarks by NYC Mayor Bloomberg at Symposium on U.S. Immigration Policy: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I-NY) this week is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Council on Foreign Relations Symposium on "The Future of U.S. Immigration Policy." Mayor Bloomberg's remarks are scheduled for 1:15 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the Washington, DC Office of the Council on Foreign Relations. MALDEF Awards Gala:  The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) has scheduled its DC Awards Gala for this week, at which it will honor Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis; Acting New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales; and Will and Susan Soza.  Emceeing the dinner will be actress and activist Eva Longoria and Lili Estefan. The Gala Dinner is scheduled for 7:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC.  Remarks by USCIS Director Mayorkas at Flag Day Naturalization Ceremony:  USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas is scheduled to make remarks this week during a Flag Day naturalization ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled for 11:15 am EDT on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC.    Film Screening:  HBO and Campus Progress have scheduled a premiere screening and discussion for this week on the documentary film, "Citizen USA: A 50 State Road Trip," produced by Alexandra Pelosi, which documents naturalization ceremonies across all 50 states and features interviews with new citizens to learn why they chose America as their home.  Participants will include House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and film producer Alexandra Pelosi. The film screening is scheduled for 6:30 pm EDT on Thursday, June 16, 2011, at the AMC Lowes Georgetown Theater in Washington, DC.

Week of June 6, 2011 House Begins One Week-Long Recess While Senate Returns to a Light Immigration-Related Legislative Agenda Senate Panel to Hold Hearing on Corruption Among Border Officials This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Senate Panel to Hold Hearing on Corruption in Customs and Border Protection: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Border Corruption: Assessing Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's Office Collaboration in the Fight to Prevent Corruption."  Witnesses at the hearing will include Alan D. Bersin, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and Charles Edwards, Acting Inspector General, DHS The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 9, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.       This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, no markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences.           This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences.   This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors       At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week:   Discussion on Immigration and Competitiveness:  The Migration Policy Institute has scheduled a discussion for today titled "Immigration and Competitiveness: Responding to Global Challenges in the EU and US".  Participants in the discussion will include Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow, Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, and former Chief Economist and Economic Adviser to Vice President Joe Biden; Pia Orrenius, Senior Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; and Demetrios Papademetriou, MPI’s President and convener of the Transatlantic Council on Migration. The discussion is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Migration Policy Institute.     Address by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano:  DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano is scheduled today to deliver remarks to the American Association of Exporters and Importers on securing the global supply chain and speaks at New York University? School of Law about homeland security efforts 10 years after the 9/11 attacks. The discussion is scheduled for 11:45 am EDT on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at the Hilton New York Hotel in New York City. Address on Immigration Services and National Security:  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas is scheduled today to deliver remarks on providing immigration benefits while ensuring national security to the American Council on International Personnel Symposium. Director Mayorkas's remarks are scheduled for 12:50 pm EDT on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, VA.   Discussion on 21st Century U.S.-Mexico Border:  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a news conference for this week to release a report on "Steps to a 21st Century U.S.-Mexico Border," focusing on trade, security, infrastructure, immigration, and travel issues along the U.S.-Mexico border.  Participants in the news conference will include former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, chairman of the U.S. Chamber's National Security Task Force; Ann Beauchesne, vice president for national security and emergency preparedness at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Adam Salerno, director of national security and emergency preparedness at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and Patrick Kilbride, senior director for the Americas and international affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The discussion is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at the Washington, DC offices of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Discussion on Migration as a Tool of Disaster Recovery:  The Center for Global Development has scheduled a policy roundtable discussion for this week on how the United States might utilize migration as one of many tools to help people after a natural disaster abroad. The roundtable will discuss a paper written by Sarah Petrin Williamson and Royce Murray titled, "Migration as a Tool for Disaster Recovery", which examines ways in which the United States could better utilize or update existing migration policies to assist people from developing countries following a natural catastrophe. The discussion is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Thursday, June 9, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Center for Global Development.     USCIS Announcement on Initiative to Combat Immigration Service Scams:  The The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has scheduled an event for this week to announce an initiative to combat immigration service scams.  Participants in the event will include Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton; USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas; Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division Tony West; Federal Trade Commissioner Edith Ramirez; and Juan Osuna, director of the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review. The event is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, June 9, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of USCIS.

Week of May 30, 2011 Senate Begins One Week-Long Memorial Day Recess While the House Takes Up Immigration-Filled Legislative Agenda House to Consider Dozens of Immigration Amendments as it Takes Up FY '12 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill House Judiciary to Markup Bill Providing for Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous Aliens" House Judiciary to Markup Bill to Make it Easier to Deny and Revoke Alien Visas House Homeland Security Panel to Markup Three Border Security Bills This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Judiciary Panel to Hold Oversight Hearing on the Operations of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution has scheduled an oversight hearing for this week to examine the operations of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.  The sole witness at the hearing will be Tom Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil rights. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Foreign Affairs Committee to hold Hearing on Human Rights in Asia: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Religious Freedom, Democracy, Human Rights in Asia: Status of Implementation of the Tibetan Policy Act, Block Burmese JADE [Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts] Act (PL 110-286), and North Korean Human Rights Act." Among the witnesses who are scheduled to testify at the hearing are Robert King, Ambassador and Special Envoy for North Korean human rights issues, State Department; Daniel B. Baer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Joseph Y. Yun, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Richard Gere, Chairman, Board of Directors, International Campaign for Tibet; Chuck Downs, Executive Director, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea; Aung Din, Executive Director and Co-Founder, U.S. Campaign for Burma; and Sophie Richardson, Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.       This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Committee on Rules to Markup of Rule Providing for Consideration of Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The House Committee on Rules has scheduled a markup for this week of the rule that will govern the procedures for House floor consideration of H.R. 2017, the Fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which the House is expected to take up next week.  Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including appropriations for the border security, interior immigration enforcement, and immigration services functions of the federal government.  The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved its version of the measure on Friday, May 13, 2011.  The full House Committee on Appropriations marked up the measure on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. The markup is scheduled for 5:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, in Room H-313 of the U.S. Capitol Building House Committee on Rules to Markup of Rule Providing for Consideration of Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill: The House Committee on Rules has scheduled a markup for this week of the rule that will govern the procedures for House floor consideration of the Fiscal year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which the House is expected to take up next week.  Each year, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for military construction and the Veterans Administration.  Included in the measure is Section 414, which would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees.  The Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies marked up its version of the measure on Friday, May 13, 2011.  The full House Committee on Appropriations marked up the measure on Tuesday, May 24, 2011. The markup is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, in Room H-313 of the U.S. Capitol Building   House Homeland Security Panel to Markup the "Secure Border Act of 2011": The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1299, the "Secure Border Act of 2011", a measure introduced by House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security Chairwoman Candice Miller (R-MI).  As introduced, H.R. 1299 would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to submit to the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs a comprehensive strategy for gaining operational control of the international borders of the United States within five years.  The markup is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.    House Homeland Security Panel to Markup Bill to Increase CBP Access to Federal Lands: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1922, a bill to provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection with access to Federal lands to carry out certain security activities in the Southwest border region, a measure introduced by freshman Representative Ben Quayle (R-AZ).   The markup is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.    House Homeland Security Panel to Markup Border Security Enforcement Task Force Bill: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 915, the "Jaime Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act", a measure introduced by House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security Ranking Minority Member Henry Cuellar (D-TX).  As introduced, the measure would establish a Border Enforcement Security Task Force program to enhance border security by fostering coordinated efforts among Federal, State, and local border and law enforcement officials to protect United States border cities and communities from trans-national crime, including violence associated with drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal alien trafficking and smuggling, violence, and kidnapping along and across the international borders of the United States.  The markup is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.            House Judiciary Committee to Markup Bill on the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous Aliens": The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a markup for this week 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 markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.    House Judiciary Committee to Markup of Visa Security Bill: The House Committee on the Judiciary has schedued a markup for this week of H.R. 1741, the "Secure Visas Act", which was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX). The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.            This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up "Deeming Resolution" on Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Bills: The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up a "Deeming Resolution", which will contain provisions "deeming" that the discretionary spending allocations that are contained in H. Con. Res. 34, the House-approved Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution, are the final allocations in effect for the purposes of House floor consideration of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills.   The full House is likely to take up the "Deeming Resolution" during this week, in all likelihood as part of the procedural maneuvering that takes place in connection with taking up the Homelland Security Appropriations Bill. Full House to Take Up Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 2017, its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including appropriations for the border security, interior immigration enforcement, and immigration services functions of the federal government.  The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved its version of the measure on Friday, May 13, 2011.  The full House Committee on Appropriations marked up the measure on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.  As reported to the House of Representatives, the measure contains modest increases in funding for border security and interior immigration enforcement; deep cuts in funding for immigration services; and numerous immigration-related legislative riders, spending limitations, and directives. The full House is scheduled to take up H.R. 2017 beginning on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, with consideration of the measure possibly continuing into Friday, June 3, 2011. Full House to Take Up Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs  Appropriations Bill: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for military construction and the Veterans Administration.  Included in the measure is Section 414, which would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees.  The Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies marked up its version of the measure on Friday, May 13, 2011.  The full House Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to markup the measure on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.  The full House is likely to take up the FY '12 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill on Friday, June 3, 2011.   This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors               At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week:   Presentation on the Hispanic Population in the United States:  The Bureau of the Census will has scheduled a web event for this week to discuss new details on the Hispanic population.  The web event is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.   Discussion on Internal Displacement During Natural Disaster:  The Brookings Institution's Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Responding to Natural Disasters," focusing on challenges humanitarian agencies and governments face as they respond to an increasing number of deadly natural disasters each year.  Participants in the discussion will include Nan Buzard, senior director of international response and programs at the American Red Cross; Donna Derr, director of development and humanitarian assistance for Church World Services; Elizabeth Ferris, co-director of the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement; and Alice Thomas, Climate Displacement Program manager for Refugees International. The discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2011, at the Washington, DC offices of the Brookings Institution.   Discussion on Russian Immigration:  The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Immigration and Social Power: The Russian Case."  Participants in the forum will include Vladimir Malakhov, leading research fellow at the Department of Social and Political Philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy at the Russian Academy of Sciences. The discussion is scheduled for 3:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 1, 2011,   Discussion on Hispanics and Immigrants in the Economy:  The National Economists Club has scheduled a luncheon discussion for this week, during which it will host Rakesh Kocchar, Associate Director for Research at the Pew Hispanic Center, who will deliver remarks on "Hispanics and Immigrants in the Economic Boom and Bust, 2000-2010." The discussion is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Thursday, June 2, 2011, at the Chinatown Garden Restaurant in Washington, DC.   Briefing on the Changing Demography of the United States:  The President of Univision is scheduled this week to participate in a keynote interview at a briefing on how the changing demography of the U.S. is affecting the economy, what adjustments should be made to the public policy agenda to create pathways to opportunity, and what opportunities these emerging communities create for American businesses.  Participants in the forum will include César Conde, President of Univision; Representative Mike Honda (D-CA), Chairman Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Chairman Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Cau; Howard Hogan, Associate Director for Demographic Programs, U.S. Census Bureau; Eliseo Medina, International Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU; Israel Ortega, Editor, Heritage Libertad; Ed Reilly, Global CEO, FD; Simon Rosenberg, President and Founder, NDN; J. Walker Smith, Global Executive Chairman, The Futures Company; Amy Wilkins, Vice President for Government Affairs and Communications, The Education Trust; Tom Wilson, Chairman, President and CEO, The Allstate Corporation; and Sam Yoon, Executive Director, National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations. The briefing is scheduled for 7:45 am EDT  on Friday, June 3, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC

Week of May 23, 2011 House Appropriations Committee to Markup Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill House Appropriations Committee to Makup Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction Bill Containing E-Verify Provision House Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on New Bill Providing for Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous Aliens" Immigration Amendments Possible When Senate Takes Up Compromise USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorization Bill Helsinki Commission to Hold Hearing on Labor Trafficking Senate Expected to Take Up (and Reject) House-Approved Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Helsinki Commission Hearing on Labor Trafficking:  The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe will hold a hearing this week titled "Labor Trafficking in Troubled Economic Times: Protecting American Jobs and Migrant Human Rights."  Testifying at the hearing will be Luis C. deBaca, Ambassador-at-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Department of State; Gabriela Lemus, senior adviser and director, Office of Public Engagement, Department of Labor; Nancy A. Donaldson, Director, Washington Office, International Labor Organization; Neha Misra, Senior Specialist, Migration and Human Trafficking, Solidarity Center; Julia Ormond, Actress and Founder, Alliance to Stop Slavery and End Trafficking. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Monday, May 23, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on Bill Dealing with the Detention of Dangerous Aliens: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on a yet-to-be-introduced bill that is expected to provide for the indefinite detention of "dangerous aliens" who cannot be returned to their countries of nationality.  Testifying at the hearing will be Gary Meade, Executive Associate Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Thomas Dupree, now at Gibson, Dunn—formerly Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General;  Doug Baker, Police Chief of Fort Myers, Florida; and Ahilan Arulanantham, Deputy Legal Director, ACLU of Southern California. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Foreign Affairs Panel to Hold Hearing on Child Abduction and Trafficking:  The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "International Child Abduction: Broken Laws and Bereaved Lives".  In addition to dealing with child abduction, the hearing also could deal with the issue of child trafficking in post-catastrophic situations.  Testifying at the hearing will be David Goldman, Father of Abducted and Subsequently Returned Child; Sarah Edwards, Mother of Abducted Child; Carlos Bermudez, Father of Abducted Child; Michel Elias, Father of Abducted Children; Joshua Izzard, Father of Abducted Child; Colin Bower, Father of Abducted Children; Ms. Patricia Apy, Attorney, Paras, Apy & Reiss, P.C.; Kristin Wells, Partner, Patton Boggs; and Jesse Eaves, World Vision. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Room 2203 of the Rayburn House Office Building.       This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Appropriations Committee to Consider FY '12 Subcommittee Spending Allocations: The House Committee on Appropriations this week is scheduled to consider a committee report allocating fiscal year 2012 discretionary spending among the Committee's 12 subcommittees.  The Fiscal Year 2012 Subcommittee Spending Allocations, known as 302(b) allocations after the section of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 that provides for them, will set the stage for markup of the 12 fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills in the full Committee and consideration of the measures on the House floor.     The House Committee on Appropriations markup is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations Committee to Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The House Committee on Appropriations this week is scheduled to markup its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including appropriations for the border security, interior immigration enforcement, and immigration services functions of the Department.  The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security marked up its version of the measure on Friday, May 13, 2011, approving modest increases in funding for border security and interior immigration enforcement, making deep cuts in funding for immigration services, and including numerous immigration-related legislative riders and spending limitations within the measure. The House Committee on Appropriations markup is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations Committee to Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs  Appropriations Bill: The full House Committee on Appropriations this week is scheduled to markup its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.  Each year, that measure appropriates funding for military construction and the Veterans Administration.  The Subcommittee on Military Construction, Vetearns Affairs, and Related Agencies marked up its version of the measure on Friday, May 13, 2011.  Included in the measure is Section 414, which would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an existing executive order requirinig federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. The House Committee on Appropriations markup is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences:   Full Senate Could Face Immigration Amendments When it Takes Up USA PATRIOT Act Extension Measure: The full Senate this week is scheduled to take up S. 1038, a compromise measure that would extend without change three expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act for four years.  The Senate is expected to take up the compromise measure in lieu of taking up S. 193, the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2011, which the Senate Committee on the Judiciary approved on Thursday, April 10, 2011.  One immigration-related amendment was unsuccessfully offered to S. 193 during the Committee's consideration of the measure.  However, it is unclear whether that or any other immigration-related amendments will be offered to S. 1038 this week when the full Senate takes up the measure. The compromise embodied in S. 1038 was reached between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH).  It was unclear at the time of this writing, however, whether the compromise will be accepted by a sufficient number of senators to enable it to move through the Senate without being amended.  Unless Congress acts to extend the three provisions by May 27, 2011, they will expire. The Senate is expected to face a 5:00 pm EDT Monday, May 23, 2011, vote on a motion to invoke cloture (bring debate to a close) on a motion to proceed to S. 1038.  The affirmative votes of 60 senators will be needed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed.   If the Senate invokes cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1038, it will then take up the measure and consider amendments to it.  Majority Leader Reid will likely make use of procedural tools at his disposal to limit, if not block floor amendments to the bill. Full Senate to Take Up House-Approved Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution: The full Senate this week could take up H. Con. Res. 34, the House-approved Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution.  As approved by the House, H. Con. Res. 34 could pave the way for deep cuts in both the domestic and international discretionary spending functions that fund refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs, as well as open the door for rolling back immigrant and refugee eligibility for the Medicaid and Food Stamp programs.  At the same time that it takes up H. Con. Res. 34, the Senate also is expected to take up a Republican-drafted measure that purports to implement President Obama's fiscal year 2012 budget submission. Senate consideration of the House-approved Fiscal Year 2012 budget resolution is not likely to occur until Wednesay, May 25, 2011, or later.  The House of Representatives approved H. Con. Res. 34 on Friday, April 15, by a vote of 235-193, after rejecting four different substitute amendments.   Full House to Take Up FY '12 Department of Defense Authorization Bill Containing Several Immigration-Related Provisions: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.  As approved by the House Committee on Armed Services, the measure contains several immigration-related provisions, most of which relate to detainees held at the U.S. naval base on Guantanamo Bay. The House of Representatives is expected to take up H.R. 1540 on or after Wednesday, May 25, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors             At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Forum on the Plight of Iran's Ethno-Religious Minorities: Kurdish Human Rights Watch, Inc., and the Leadership Council for Human Rights are sponsoring a forum this week titled "Iran's Ethno-Religious Minorities Under Siege".   The forum is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Monday, May 23, 2011, in Room B-340 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Press Conference on Immigrant Children in Science: The National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) has scheduled a telephonic press conference for this week to release a major new study on the impact of the children of immigrants on scientific achievement in America.  Participants in the press conference will include Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy, and author of the study; Michelle Abi Hackman, finalist, Intel Science Talent Search; Selena Shi-Yao Li, Finalist, Intel Science Talent Search; Shubhro Saha, Finalist, Intel Science talent Search; Daniel Hackman, Father of Michelle, Refugee from Iran; and Samar Saha, Father of Shubhro, who came to the United States on an H-1B Visa from India. The telephonic  press conference is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Monday, May 23, 2011. Panel Discussion on U.S. Immigration Court System: The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) has scheduled a discussion for this week on a report it is issuing titled, "Built to Fail: Deception and Disorder in America's Immigration Courts."  Among the participants in the discussion will be report author Mark Metcalf; Grisel Ibarra, immigration attorney and activist; Andrew McCarthy, former federal prosecutor and Senior Fellow of the National Review Institute; and Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. The panel discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Forum on Immigration, Integration, and Islam: The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies' (SAIS) Center for Transatlantic Relations; and the European Center of Excellence has scheduled a forum for this week on "Immigration, Integration and Islam: New Policies in the Context of Present Political, Security and Economic Challenges." The forum is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. Press Conference on Immigrant Deportations: House Democrats have scheduled a news conference for this week to discuss the impact of immigrant deportations.  Participants in the press conference will include Representatives Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL); Joe Baca (D-CA); Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY); John Conyers Jr. (D-MI); Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX); James P. Moran (D-VA); Jared Polis (D-CO; and Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change. The press conference is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at the House Triangle outside of the U.S. Capitol Building. Forum on the State of Latino Youth:  The National Council of La Raza has scheduled a forum for this week on the state of America's Latino youth.  Participants in the forum will include Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) and Josephine Garza, Executive Director of the National Latino Children's Institute. The forum is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Thursday, May 26, 2011, at the Hilton Embassy Row in Washington, DC. Press Conference on Chinese Exclusion Act:  Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) has scheduled a news conference for this week on the apology for the Chinese Exclusion Action, which suspended Chinese immigration to the United States. The press conference is scheduled for 1:45 pm EDT on Thursday, May 26, 2011, at the House Triangle outside of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Week of May 16, 2011 House Begins Week-Long Recess While Senate Remains Behind in Washington Senate Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on Northern Border Security Senate Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on Backlogs in EOIR Adjudications Senate Budget Committee Could Markup Its Version of the Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Senate Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on Northern Border Security: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Improving Security and Facilitating Commerce at America's Northern Border and Ports of Entry." At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing included Alan Bersin, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; and John Morton, Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on Backlogs in the Immigration Court System: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Improving Efficiency and Ensuring Justice in the Immigration Court System." At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing included Juan P. Osuna, Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR); Karen T. Grisez, Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Commission on Immigration; and Julie Meyers, Former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Administration of President George W. Bush. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Senate Budget Committee Could Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution: The Senate Committee on the Budget is could as soon as this week markup its fiscal year 2012 budget resolution in the coming weeks. Each year, the budget resolution sets a ceiling on spending and a floor on revenue for the coming fiscal year. It also includes caps on the amount of spending for each function of government for the coming fiscal year. And it sometimes includes reconciliation instructions ordering authorizing committees of the House to report legislation reducing entitlement spending for programs under their jurisdiction. The markup had not yet been scheduled at the time of this writing. However, it could occur as soon as Wednesday, May 18, 2011. When it occurs, it likely will take place in Room SD-608 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.   Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Conference on U.S.-Mexico Relations: The U.S.-Mexico Foundation has scheduled a conference for this week titled "The Challenge of Shared Responsibility." Among the participants in the conference will be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; Dr. Arturo Valenzuela, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Honorable Henry Cisneros, Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The conference is scheduled for Monday, May 16, 2011 through Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at the Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, DC. Panel Discussion on Immigrant Integration: The Migration Policy Institute has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "Sharing Responsibility for Immigrant Integration: The Role of the Federal Government in Addressing Immigration Impacts." The discussion will be followed by a ceremony to award the "E Pluribus Unum" prizes to honor exemplary immigration integration initiatives. The panel discussion is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. Panel Discussion on Immigrant Integration: The Migration Policy Institute has scheduled a panel discussion titled, "The Role of the Federal Government in Addressing Immigration Impacts", as part of a forum on immigration integration initiatives. The panel discussion is scheduled for 4:15 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. Award of "E Pluribus Unum" Prizes: The Migration Policy Institute has scheduled a forum at which it will award the "E Pluribus Unum" prizes to honor exemplary immigration integration initiatives. The awards will be presented during a keynote address by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The keynote address and presentation of awards will take place at 6:15 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. Film Screening Featuring Story of North Korean Refugees: The Asia Society Washington Center has scheduled a film screening and discussion on the documentary, "Yodok Stories," which follows a 36-year-old Jung Sung San, who has managed to escape the concentration camps in North Korea and seek refuge in South Korea. The film screening is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Whittemore House in Washington, DC. Discussion on Remittances at State Department Global Diaspora Forum: Appleseed is scheduled to host a panel discussion this week on "'The Human Face of Remittances,' emphasizing the importance of remittances to families back home, and 'Children at the Border,' its new report focusing on protecting unaccompanied minors who are detained in the U.S. after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border." The panel discussion is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, May 19, 2011, at 727 15th Street NW, Washington, DC. Address by PRM Assistant Secretary at State Department Global Diaspora Forum: Address by Assistant Secretary for Populations, Refugees, and Migration at U.S. Department of State has scheduled three day-long Global Diaspora Forum. Participants in the forum will include Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Eric Schwartz. Assistant Secretary Schwarz's remarks are scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Thursday, May 19, 2011, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. Briefing on Comprehensive Immigration Reform: The Cato Institute has schedule a briefing for this week on comprehensive immigration reform. The briefing is titled, "Answering the Critics of Comprehensive Immigration Reform." Participants in the briefing will include Stuart Anderson, Adjunct Scholar at the Cato Institute; Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America's Voice; and Laura Renz, Government Affairs Manager at the Cato Institute. The briefing is scheduled 12:30 pm EDT on Friday, May 20, 2011, in Room B-340 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Week of May 9, 2011 President Obama to Make Speech on Immigration Reform During Visit to El Paso, Texas House Appropriations Panel to Markup FY '12 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill Senate Democrats to Introduce DREAM Act House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on New Visa Security Bill House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on U.S.-Mexico Border Law Enforcement Senate Budget Committee Could Conduct Markup of FY '12 Budget Resolution This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on U.S.-Mexico Border Law Enforcement: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Management has scheduled a hearing for this week mid-May titled "On the Border and in the Line of Fire: U.S. Law Enforcement, Homeland Security and Drug Cartel Violence." Testifying at the hearing will be Grayling Williams, Director, Office of Counter Narcotics Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; Amy Pope, Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; Steven McCraw, Director, Texas Department of Public Safety; Tom Horne, State Attorney General, Arizona; and Sigifredo Gonzalez, Sheriff, Zapata County, Texas. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Judiciary Committee to Hold Legislative Hearing on Visa Security: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on H.R. 1741, the "Secure Visas Act". Testifying at the hearing will be Gary Cote, Acting Deputy Assistant Director, Office of International Affairs, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; David Donahue, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services; Janice Kephart, Director of National Security Policy, Center for Immigration Studies; and Edward Alden, senior fellow, Council on Foreign Relations. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Panel to Hold Oversight Hearing on the Operations of USAID: The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations has scheduled a hearing for this week on the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Testifying at the hearing will be Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and Donald Gambetesa, Inspector General, USAID. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, in Room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building. This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Appropriations Panel to Markup FY '12 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a markup for this week of its version of the Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including appropriations for the border security, interior immigration enforcement, and immigration services functions of the federal government. The markup is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Friday, May 13, 2011, in Room HC-5 of the U.S. Capitol Building. Senate Budget Committee Could Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution: The Senate Committee on the Budget is could as soon as this week markup its fiscal year 2012 budget resolution in the coming weeks. Each year, the budget resolution sets a ceiling on spending and a floor on revenue for the coming fiscal year. It also includes caps on the amount of spending for each function of government for the coming fiscal year. And it sometimes includes reconciliation instructions ordering authorizing committees of the House to report legislation reducing entitlement spending for programs under their jurisdiction. The markup had not yet been scheduled at the time of this writing. However, it could occur as soon as the week of Monday, May 9, 2011. When it occurs, it likely will take place in Room SD-608 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House to Take Up the Assessing Haitian Progress Act: The full House of Representatives is scheduled this week to 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. House floor consideration of the measure s scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.   Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Discussion on Asia's Internally Displaced Women and Children: The Asia Society Washington Center and the George Washington University Sigur Center for Asian Studies has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "Asia's Internally Displaced Women and Children." Participants in the discussion will include Dawn Calabia, Senior Advisor at Refugees International; Roberta Cohen, Nonresident Senior Fellow and Senior Advisor at the Brookings Institution; and T. Kumar, Director of International Advocacy at Amnesty International USA. President Obama Trip to the U.S. Border with Mexico: President Barack Obama is scheduled to make a trip this week to El Paso, Texas, during which he is expected to make a speech addressing the issue of immigation reform and make a stop at Chamizal National Memorial, along the border with Ciudad Juarez. The President's trip to the U.S.-Mexico Border is expected to take place on Tuesday, May 10, 2011. He is expected to deliver his speech on immigration reform at 1:30 pm MDT at the Chamizal National Park. Briefing on Second Language Learners and Immigrant Students: The National Writing Project has scheduled a briefing for this week on second language learners and immigrant students. The session will be moderated by Delia Pompa, vice president for education, National Council of La Raza. Panelists will include Brandy De Alba, teacher, Roosevelt Elementary School, Stockton, CA; Grace Raffaele, Teacher-Consultant, New York City Writing Project, Flushing International High School, Queens, N.Y.; Sharon Ornelas, teacher, Thomas Edison High School, Minneapolis, MN; and Kenya Hernandez, student, Roosevelt Elementary School, Stockton, CA. The briefing is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, in Room 1539 of the Longworth House Building. Senate Democrats to Introduce the DREAM Act: Assistant Democratic Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL) has scheduled a press conference for this week to announce the introduction of the DREAM Act. Participants in the press conference will include Senator Durbin, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ). The news conference is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, in Room S-211 of the U.S. Captiol Building. Discussion on Birthright Citizenship: The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS); and the Center for American Progress (CAP) has scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Consequences of Repealing Birthright Citizenship." Participants in the discussion will include Caroline Fredrickson, Executive Director of ACS: Angela Maria Kelley, Vice President of Immigration Policy and Advocacy at CAP; Sam Fulwood III, Senior Fellow of CAP; Wade Henderson, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Margaret Stock, Adjunct Instructor of the University of Alaska Anchorage; and Priscilla Huang, Associate Policy Director of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum. The panel discussion is scheduled for 11:30 am EDT on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Center for American Progress. President Obama to Attend 2011 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast: President Obama this week is scheduled to attend and make remarks at the 2011 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast. The 2011 National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast is scheduled to begin at 7:00 am EDT on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.   Public Meeting on FY 2012 Refugee Admissions Program: The U.S. Department of State has scheduled a public meeting for this week on the President's FY 2012 U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The meeting's purpose is to hear the views of attendees on the appropriate size and scope of the FY 2012 U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The meeting is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at the Refugee Processing Center in Arlington, Virginia.

Week of May 2, 2011 The House and Senate Returns From Two Week-Long Recess Senate Homeland Security Panel to Hear from Secretary Napolitano on Border Security Matters Attorney General Eric Holder to Tesitfy before House and Senate Judiciary Committees House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on DHS Cooperation with State and Local Stakeholders This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on DHS Cooperation with State and Local Stakeholders: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Border Security and Enforcement - Department of Homeland Security's Cooperation with State and Local Law Enforcement Stakeholders." The witness list for the hearing includes Kumar Kibble, Deputy Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; Ronald Vitiello, Deputy Chief, U.S. Border Patrol; Larry Dever, Sheriff, Cochise County, Arizona; Todd Entrekin, Sheriff, Etowah County, Alabama; Richard Wiles, sheriff, El Paso, Texas.   The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Hold Oversight Hearing on the Operations of the U.S. Department of Justice: The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for this week on to conduct oversight over the U.S. Department of Justice, which overeseas a number of immigration-related agencies, including the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.   The hearing is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Oversight Hearing on the Operations of the U.S. Department of Justice: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for this week on to conduct oversight over the U.S. Department of Justice, which overeseas a number of immigration-related agencies, including the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Homeland Security Committee to Hold Oversight Hearing on Border Security: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week on progress at the federal level on securing the border. The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, no markups were scheduled for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor activity on immigration- or refugee-related matters are scheduled to occur this week in the House or Senate. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.   Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Brookings Institution Discussion on Role of UNHCR: The Brookings Institution has scheduled a panel discussion for this week on the role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in humanitarian aid. Participants in the discussion will include Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner for Eefugees, United Nations; and Ted Piccone (moderator), Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of Foreign Policy, Brookings Institution. The discussion is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, May 5, 2011, in the Falk Auditorium, Brookings Institution. News Briefing on Border Security Policy: The National Immigration Forum has scheduled a news briefing call for this week on border security policy. Participants in the briefing will include Terry Goddard, Former Attorney General of Arizona; William K. Moore, Representative, Texas Border Coalition; Simon Rosenberg, President and Founder, NDN; and Ali Noorani (moderator), Executive Director, National Immigration Forum. The press call is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Friday, May 6, 2011.

Week of April 11, 2011 House and Senate to Take Up FY '11 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Resolution House to Take Up its FY '12 Budget Resolution House Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on the H-2A Nonimmigrant Agricultural Guest Worker Program House Ways and Means Panel to Hold Hearing on E-Verify and the Social Security Administration Two House Committee Panels to Hold Joint Hearing on the Environment and Border Security House and Senate to Begin Two Week-Long Recess Following This Week's Action This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on FY '12 Appropriations for the USAID: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine fiscal year 2012 appropriations for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The sole witness scheduled to testify at the hearing is USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, in Room SD-138 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Judiciary Panel Hearing on the H-2A Nonimmigrant Agricultural Guest Worker Program: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the H-2A nonimmigrant Agricultural Guest Worker Program. The hearing is titled, "The H-2A Visa Program: Meeting the Growing Needs of American Agriculture?" Two panels of witnesses will testify at the hearing. Testifying on the first panel will be Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training. The second panel of witnesses will consist of Leon R. Sequeira, Counsel, Seyfarth Shaw LLP; Lee Wicker, Deputy Director, North Carolina Growers Association; and Bruce Goldstein, President, Farmworker Justice. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hear from Members of Congress on Fiscal Year 12 Appropriations for Foreign Operations: The House Appropriations Subcommitteeon State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine fiscal year 2012 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction, which includes jurisdiction over appropriations for refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) program. Scheduled to testify at the hearing are Representatives David Dreier (R-CA), David E. Price (D-NC), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), Donald M. Payne (D-NJ), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), and Sam Farr (D-CA). At least several of those Members are expected to address the subject of refugee funding during their remarks. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Room 2362A of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Ways and Means Panel to Hold Hearing on the Role of Social Security Numbers in Identity Theft: The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security has scheduled a hearing for this week on the role of Social Security numbers in identity theft and options to guard their privacy. Testifying at the hearing will be Patrick P. O'Carroll Jr., Inspector General, Social Security Administration; Maneesha Mithal, Associate Director, Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, Federal Trade Commission; and Theresa Gruber, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Office of Operations, Social Security Administration. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Hold Hearing on FY '12 Funding for International Development: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine fiscal year 2012 appropriations for international development. The witness list for the hearing includes USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and Daniel W. Yohannes, CEO, Millennium Challenge Corporation. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, in Room SD-419 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hear from Public Witnesses on Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations for Foreign Operations: The House Appropriations Subcommitteeon State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine fiscal year 2012 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction, which includes jurisdiction over appropriations for refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) program. Scheduled to testify at the hearing are public witnesses. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Room 2362A of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Ways and Means Panel to Hold Hearing on E-Verify and the Social Security Administration: The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security has scheduled a hearing for this week on the role of the Social Security Administration in verifying employment eligibility. The witness list for the hearing includes Richard M. Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office; Marianna LaCanfora, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Social Security Administration; Tyler Moran, Policy Director, National Immigration Law Center; Ana I. Anton, Professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University; and Austin T. Fragomen Jr., Chairman, Board of Directors, American Council on International Personnel. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Two House Committees to Hold Joint Hearing on the Environment and Border Security: The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations and the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands have scheduled a joint hearing for this week titled "The Border: Are Environmental Laws and Regulations Impeding Security and Harming the Environment?" Two panels of witnesses will testify at the hearing. The first panel will consist of Ronald Vitiello, Deputy Chief, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol; Kim Thorsen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for policy, management and budget; and Jay Jensen, Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment. Testifying on the second panel will be George Zachary Taylor and Gene Wood, National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers; Jim Chilton, Owner, Chilton Ranch, Arivaca, Arizona; and Anu Mittal, Director, Natural Resources and Environment Issues, Government Accountability Office. The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Friday, April 15, 2011, in Room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, the following markups were scheduled for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Foreign Affairs Committee to Markup Assessing Haitian Progress Act: The House Committee on Foreign Affiars has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1061, 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 markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor activity on immigration- or refugee-related matters are scheduled to occur this week in the House or Senate: Full House and Senate to Take Up Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations Measure: The full House of Representatives and Senate this week will take up a fiscal year 2011 full-year continuing appropriations measure providing funding for discretionary programs, functions, and activities for the remainder of fiscal year 2011. House and Senate floor action is set to occur in connection with H.R. 1473, the Fiscal Yeaer 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Bill. Reports indicate that it will cut fiscal year 2011 spending by somewhere between $37.7 BILLION and $38.8 BILLION below the level of spending that occurred in fiscal year 2010. These reports indicate that the cuts will be comprised of about $20 BILLION in specific discretionary spending cuts, about $1.1 BILLION in across-the-board cuts to non-defense discretionary spending programs, and about $17.8 BILLION in mandatory or entitlement spending cuts. $12 BILLION of the $20 BILLION in discretionary spending cuts have already been enacted as part of the three continuing appropriations resolutions that Congress has enacted in recent weeks, leaving $8 BILLION more in discretionary spending cuts to be identified in the bill that the House and Senate will take up later this week. The inclusion of across-the-board cuts in the deal means that even those programs that escaped specific cuts will face spending reductions below fiscal year 2010 levels of spending. And so, at the very least, the deal that Congress and the White House have reached will require that refugee-related programs sustain an across-the-board cut in fiscal year 2011 of .2 percent below levels otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year. The measure does not include the deep cuts in refugee resettlement, overseas refugee assistance, and refugee admissions funding that were contained in the House-passed version of H.R. 1, a full-year fiscal year 2011 continuing appropriations measure. Moreover, the only significant immigration-related policy rider that was contained in the House-passed version of H.R. 1, a provision that would have barred federal funding for immigrant integration programs, is not included in H.R. 1473.   The House and Senate are expected to take up the full-year fiscal year 2011 spending measure sometime during the week of April 11, with the House most likely acting on Thursday, April 14, and the Senate acting shortly thereafter. Full House to Take Up Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution: The full House of Representatives is expected this week to takeup the fiscal year 2012 budget resolution. Each year, the budget resolution sets a ceiling on spending and a floor on revenue for the coming fiscal year. It also includes caps on the amount of spending for each function of government for the coming fiscal year. And it sometimes includes reconciliation instructions ordering authorizing committees of the House to report legislation reducing entitlement spending for programs under their jurisdiction. As approved by the House Committee on the Budget, H. Con. Res. 34, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal year 2012, would allocate $360 BILLION in fiscal year 2012 for "non-security" spending, which includes all discretionary spending outside of Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs. According to staff members of the Committee, that recommended spending level would equal "non-security" spending in fiscal year 2006. The measure would make significant cuts in the ceiling for discretionary spending in the general functions from which refugee-related spending is derived. For example, the measure would reduce spending for the international affairs function of goverment (the function from which refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance funding is derived) from $58.6 BILLION that was appropiated in fiscal year 2010 to just $37 BILLION in fiscal year 2012. This would represent a reduction of $21.6 BILLION or 36.9 percent. In addition to reductions in the ceilings for disrectionary spending, the Committee-approved fiscal year 2012 budget resolution also contains assumptions that would transform the Medicaid and Food Stamp programs. More specifically, the assumptions underlying the measure would turn the Medicaid and Food Stamp programs into block grant programs to the states, and they would afford each state greater flexibility in setting the programs' eligibility and benefit criteria. This could expose the programs to attempts to restrict legal immigrants' eligibility beyond the restrictions that currently exist in federal law. The House is expected to take up the budget resolution on Thursday, April 14, 2011, with consideration of the measure continuing into Friday, April 15. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.   Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Release of the Text of the Fiscal Year 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Bill: House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers (R-KY) is expected to release the text of the fiscal year 2011 full-year continuing appropriations measure sometime during the day on Monday, April 11, 2011, in order to fulfull the notice requirements under the rules of the House of Representatives that the text of measures be available three days before a bill is taken up on the House floor. The text of the measure is expected to be released and then introduced sometime during the day on Monday, April 11, 2011. Obama Speech on Deficit Reduction: President Barack Obama is expected to give a major address on deficit reduction, during which he will reveal his plans for reductions in both discretionary and entitlement spending for fiscal year 2012, and beyond. The speech is scheduled for delivery at 1:35 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, DC. Briefing for Hill Staff on Columbian Refugees: Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA) is sponsoring a briefing for congressional staff on the crisis of Colombia refugees in Ecuador, Panama and neighboring countries. Participants in the briefing will include Mr. Andrea Lari, Regional Director, Refugees International; Ms. Shaina Aber, Associate Advocacy Director, Jesuit Refugee Service; and Ms. Melanie Nezer, Senior Director for U.S. Programs and Advocacy, Hebrew immigrant Aid society. The briefing is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, April 14, 2011, in Room 441 of the Cannon House Office Building.

Week of April 4, 2011 House and Senate Hope to Take Up FY '11 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Resolution House Budget Committee to Markup its FY '12 Budget Resolution Senate Homeland Secuity Panels to Hold Hearing on Border Protection Issues House Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on Measure to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program Federation for American Immigration Reform to Hold Two-Day Radio Talk Show Forum This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on Border Security Assessment: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Obama Administration's border security policies and practices. The hearing is titled, "Using Resources Effectively to Secure Our Border at Ports of Entry--Stopping the Illicit Flow of Money, Guns and Drugs." Testifying at the hearing will be Thomas Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Stan Korosec, Vice President for Operations, Blue Water Bridge Canada; and Timothy J. Koerner, Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Canadian National Railway Company. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Judiciary Panel Hearing on the Diversity Visa Program: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement a hearing for this week to examine the Diversity Visa Program. The hearing will focus on H.R. 704, the Security and Fairness Enhancement (SAFE) for America Act of 2011, introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), which would eliminate the program. The list of witnesses at the hearing includes Representative Goodlatte, Janice Kephart from the Center for Immigration Studies, Tony Edson, Former State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Service, and former Ambassador Johnny Young, Executive Director, Migration and Refugee Services, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the United Nations and Other International Organizations: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs anticipates hold a hearing this week on the Administration's Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the United Nations and other international organizations. Testifying at the hearing will be Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The hearing is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in Room H-140 of the U.S. Capitol Building. House Foreign Affairs Committee to Hold Hearing on U.S. Policy Toward the United Nations: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Reforming the United Nations: The Future of U.S. Policy." Testifying at the hearing will be Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, April 7, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   Senate Foreign Relations Panel Hearing on Human Trafficking in Asia: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week efforts to combat human trafficking in Asia. Testifying at the hearing will be Luis CdeBaca, ambassador-at-large in the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking In Persons. The hearing is scheduled for 2:15 pm EDT on Thursday, April 7, 2011, in Room SD-419 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing on Border Security: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to secure the U.S. Border. The title of the hearing is, "Securing the Border: Progress at the Local Level." The list of witnesses for the hearing includes Veronica Escobar, El Paso County Judge, Texas; Raymond Loera, Sheriff, Imperial County, California; Raymond Cobos, Sheriff, Luna County, New Mexico; and Paul Babeu, Sheriff, Pinal County, Arizona. The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Thursday, April 7, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, the following markups were scheduled for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Budget Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution: The House Committee on the Budget is scheduled this week to markup its fiscal year 2012 budget resolution. Each year, the budget resolution sets a ceiling on spending and a floor on revenue for the coming fiscal year. It also includes caps on the amount of spending for each function of government for the coming fiscal year. And it sometimes includes reconciliation instructions ordering authorizing committees of the House to report legislation reducing entitlement spending for programs under their jurisdiction by specific amounts. It is anticipated that the text of the Chairman's Mark for the Budget Resolution will not be publicly released until Tuesday, April 5, 2011. Accordingly, there were no definitive reports at the time of this writing on how the draft measure would impact spending on accounts that impact immigration-, border security-, and refugee-related spending. Some reports indicate that the Chairman's Mark of the House budget resolution will set discretionary spending targets that would rollback non-defense discretionary spending to fiscal year 2006 level which, if the reports are true, could have a dramatic impact on refugee resettlement, refugee admissions, and overseas refugee assistance spending. Other reports indicate that the Chairman's Mark will assume changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that would transform the two entitlement programs into block grants and afford state governments greater flexibility in setting the eligibility and benefit criteria for the programs. If those reports are true, the resolution could set up a battle in Congress over whether states should be permitted to restrict legal immigrants' eligibility for the Medicaid or Medicare programs beyond the restrictions that currently exist in federal law. The markup is scheduled to occur at 10:30 am EDT in Room 210 of the Cannon House Office Building.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor activity on immigration- or refugee-related matters are scheduled to occur this week in the House or Senate: Full House and Senate Could to Take Up Fiscal Year 2011 Full Year Continuing Appropriations Resolution: The full House of Representatives this week will take up either a new, negotiated version of H.R. 1, the fiscal year 2011 full-year continuing appropriations resolution, or a stop-gap, short-term continuing appropriations resolution to fund the activities of the federal government for a short time while negotiations on a full-year measure ensue. Congressional leaders will need to reach a deal on fiscal year 2011 spending by early this week in order for the House and Senate to have time to enact it into law by Midnight on Friday. But even if a deal is reached, it will have to muster at least 217 votes in the House and may have to secure 60 votes in the Senate in order for the deal to become law. Action on either a full-year continuing appropriations resolution or on a stop-gap, short-term continuing appropriations measure is necessary because Congress has not yet completed action on fiscal year 2011 funding for any of the federal government's agencies, programs, or activities and current funding authority is set to expire at Midnight on Friday, April 8. Unless Congress acts by that date and time, most of the programs and functions of the federal government will shutdown, including the federal government's immigration-, refugee-, and border security-related functions and activities. Widespread reports indicate that the White House, Senate Democrats, and the House Republican Leadership have agreed on somewhere between $33 BILLION and $36 BILLION worth of cuts to fiscal year 2011 spending, relative to fiscal year 2010. However, at the time of this writing, House and Senate negotiators had not yet reached agreement on how those cuts in spending would be allocated. Also still in the air is the fate of more than a dozen policy-related riders, including one that would bar funding in fiscal year 2011 for immigrant integration spending. The House-passed version of H.R. 1, a full-year fiscal year 2011 continuing appropriations resolution, would make deep cuts in refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and refugee resettlement programs; cuts in funding for some border security efforts; bar funding for immigration integration; and relax existing restrictions on funding for fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico. More specifically, with regard to refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance, the House-passed version of H.R. 1 would cut fiscal year 2011 funding for those programs by $827 MILLION, from $1.850 BILLION that was appropriated in fiscal year 2010 to $1.023 BILLION in fiscal year 2011. This would constitute a 44.8 percent reduction in fiscal year 2011 funding relative to fiscal year 2010. With regard to the Department of State’s Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) Fund, the House-passed version of H.R. 1 would appropriate $44.635 MILLION for the fund, which is just under the $45 MILLION that was appropriated for the fund in fiscal year 2010. With regard to refugee resettlement, trafficking victim assistance, torture victim assistance, and the care of unaccompanied alien children, the House-passed version of H.R. 1 would reduce appropriations available to those programs by $77 MILLION, effectively cutting the appropriation from $730.928 MILLION that was appropriated in fiscal year 2010 to $653.928 MILLION. This would constitute a reduction of 10.5 percent. As a technical matter, H.R. 1 would continue fiscal year 2011 spending for the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Refugee and Entrant Assistance account at $730.928 MILLION, the same amount that was appropriated for fiscal year 2010. However, it would rescind $77 MILLION of appropriated but unobligated fiscal year 2010 ORR funding, thus reducing the available funding for the program by $77 MILLION. House and Senate floor consideration of either a stop-gap or full-year fiscal year 2011 continuing appropriations measure must take place prior to Friday, April 8, in order to prevent a shutdown of the federal government. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.   Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Discussion on a House Republican Leaders and Immigration: The Immigration Policy Institute will hold a phone discussion this week titled, "Are House Leaders Attacking Legal Immigration?" The panel discussion is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, April 4, 2011. Address on Hispanic Legislative Priorities: The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 16th annual National Capitol Forum is being held this week, during which it will hear an address from Representative Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), who will delivers remarks on "Hispanic Legislative Priorities in the 112th Congress." Representative Hinojosa's remarks are scheduled for 8:00 am EDT on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at the Westin City Center Hotel in Washington, DC. Press Conference on Welfare Use by Immigrant Households: The Center for Immigration Studies has scheduled a news conference for this week to discuss a report, "Welfare Use by Immigration Households With Children: A Look at Cash, Medicaid, Housing and Food Programs." Participants in the press conference will include Steven Camarota, director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies; Mickey Kaus, blogger and author of KausFiles.com at the Daily Caller; Iain Murray, vice president of strategy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute; and Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. The press conference is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Press Conference Announcing Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Resolution: House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Budget Committee Ranking Minority Member Jeff Sessions (R-AL) have scheduled a press conference for this week to unveil the House Republican draft fiscal year 2012 budget resolution. The press conference is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, in Room HVC-117 of the U.S. Capitol Building. FAIR Town Hall Meeting on U.S. Immigration Policy: The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has scheduled its "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio talk show town hall meeting on U.S. immigration policy for this week. Talk radio hosts from all across the country will spend two days interviewing members of Congress, immigration reform experts, and law enforcement personnel. The town hall meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:00 am EDT on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, and contuning through Thursday, April 7, 2011, at the Phoenix Park Hotel in Washington, DC.   Briefing on the Plight of LGBTI Refugees: Human Rights First is sponsoring a briefing for congressional staff this week on the protection challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) refugees and the role of the United States in providing protection and solutions. Participants in the briefing will include Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Tammy Baldwon (D-WK). Also scheduled to participate in the briefing are George Azzi, Executive Director, Arab Foundation for Freedom & Equality; Chris Dolan, Director, Refugee Law Project; Annie Mwangi-Wambug, Sexual & Gender-Based Persecution Program Manager, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) Refugee Trust of Kenya; Rachel Levitan, Director of Advocacy, Organization for Refugee Asylum & Migration (ORAM); Hatem Shams, Heartland Alliance for Human Health & Human Needs; and Annie Sovick, Advocacy Counsel, Human Rights First. The briefing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, in Room HVC-200 of the House Visitors Center in the U.S. Capitol Building. Film and Discussion on Lesbian LGBTI Individuals Facing Homophobia in East Africa: The Open Society Foundations this week is holding a film screening of and a discussion on "Getting Out," a documentary which highlights the struggle of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTI) individuals facing homophobia in east Africa. Participants in the discussion will include Michael Heflin, Project Director of LGBTI Rights Initiative at Open Society Foundations; Elisa Massimino, President and CEO of Human Rights First; and Chris Dolan, Director of the Refugee Law Project. The program is scheduled to begin at 7:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at the E Street Cinema in Washington, DC. UNHCR Briefing on Internally Displaced Persons: Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) are sponsoring a briefing this week titled, "Internal Displacement: The Challenges to Human Rights and Security." Participants in the briefing will include United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Deputy High Commissioner T. Alexander Aleinikoff and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Dr. Elizabeth G. Ferris. The briefing is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, April 7, 2011, in Room 1416 of the Longworth House Office Building. Panel Discussion on Child Trafficking: The Catholic University of America School of Law will hold a discussion this week titled "Child Trafficking: America's Role in the Problem and Solution." Participants in the panel discussion will include Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador-at-Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, U.S. Department of State; Peggy Healy, Senior Vice President for Latin America of Covenant House International; Anne Milgram, former Attorney General for the State of New Jersey and currently a Senior Fellow, New York University Center on Administration of Criminal Law; and Cory Smith, Policy Consultant for the Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST). The program is scheduled to begin at 5:00 pm EDT on Thursday, April 7, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Week of March 28, 2011 House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on the H-1B Program Senate Homeland Secuity Panels to Hold Multiple Hearings on Border Protection Issues Senate Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing Re-Examining the 9/11 Commission Recommendtions Senate Appropriations Panel to Hold Hearing on FY '12 Budget for the Department of Health and Human Services This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the U.S. Agency for International Development: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs anticipates holding a hearing this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Testifying at the hearing will be Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Budget Committee Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget: The House Committee on the Budget has scheduled a hearing for this week at which it will hear from Members of Congress on the fiscal year 2012 budget. Testifying at the hearing will be various Members of Congress. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, in Room 210 of the Cannon House Office Building. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Department of Health and Human Services: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services. Testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (which is the parent agency for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)). The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, in Room SD-124 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing Following Up on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the 9/11 Commission's recommendations ten years afterward. The title of the hearing is, "Ten Years After 9/11: A Report From the 9/11 Commission Chairmen." Testifying at the hearing will be Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, Co-chairmen of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing on Border Security: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to secure the U.S. Border. The title of the hearing is, "Securing the Border: Building on the Progress Made." The list of witnesses for the hearing includes Asa Hutchinson, Former Undersecretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security; Doris Meissner, Former Commissioner, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service; and Richard M. Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office. The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Judiciary Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the H-1B Visa Program: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Enforcement and Policy has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the H-1B visa program. The title of this week's hearing is "H-1B Visas: Designing a Program to Meet the Needs of the U.S. Economy and U.S. Workers." The witness list for the hearing includes Donald Neufeld, Associate Director for Service Center Operations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Bo Cooper, Partner, Berry Appleman and Leiden LLP; Ron Hira, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Rochester Institute of Technology; and Bruce A. Morrison, Chairman, Morrison Public Affairs Group. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, March 31, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   Senate Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on Drug Gangs Along the U.S. Border with Mexico: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Exploring Drug Gangs' Ever-Evolving Tactics to Penetrate the Border and the Federal Government's Ability to Stop Them." Two panels of witnesses will testify at the hearing. The witnesses on the first panel will include Donna Bucella, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Intelligence and Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; James Dinkins, Executive Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; Thomas Harrigan, Assistant Administrator and Chief of Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice. The witnesses on the second panel will include Fran Flener, Arkansas State Drug Director; and L. Kent Bitsko, Director, Nevada High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, March 31, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, the following markups were scheduled for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences. House Foreign Affairs Committee to Markup Assessing Haitian Progress Act: The House Committee on Foreign Affiars has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1061, 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. The markup is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Thursday, March 31, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor activity on immigration- or refugee-related matters are scheduled to occur this week in the House or Senate. That being said, the freewheeling nature of Senate rules and practices permit amendments on any subject to be offered to bills while those bills are being considered on the Senate floor, and so amendments on immigration- or refugee-related matters or amendments that could impact immigration or refugee policy and spending could come up on the Senate floor in connection with its consideration of unrelated legislation. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.     Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Napolitano-Mayorkas Announcement on E-Verify: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas are expected to make an announcement with regard to the E-Verify System this week in Orlando, Florida. The media availability is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Monday, March 28, 2011, in Orlando, Florida.   President Obama Town Hall on Hispanics and Education: President Barack Obama will join Jorge Ramos and Univision and their Es El Momento campaign for a townhall “Noticias Univision Presenta: Es El Momento – El Presidente, Los Hispanos y la Educacion” speaking directly the Hispanic Community about the state of education. The townhall will air at 7pm EDT on Monday, March 28, 2911, on Univision. News Conference on Initiative Relating to Children and Immigration Laws: House Democrats will hold a news conference this week to launch the "Campaign for American Children and Families." Participants in the press conference will include Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Barbara Lee (D-CA). The presss conference is sheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Thursday, March 31, 2011, in Room 234 of the Cannon House Office Building. Panel Discussion on Birthright Citizenship: The Center for American Progress has scheduled a discussion for this week titled "Born in the USA? The Historical and Constitutional Underpinnings of Birthright Citizenship." Participants in the discussion will include Elizabeth Wydra, Chief Counsel, Constitutional Accountability Center; Garrett Epps, Professor of Law, University of Baltimore School of Law; James C. Ho, Attorney, Gibson Dunn and Crutcher, and Former Solicitor General of Texas; Linda Chavez, Chairman, Center for Equal Opportunity; and Sam Fulwood III (moderator), Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress. The panel discussion is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Thursday, March 31, 2011, at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. Panel Discussion on Asylum Systems: The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs will hold a discussion this week titled "Collapse: Why Some Asylum Systems Succeed While Others Fail. Participants in the discussion will include Ridvan Peshkopia, Visiting Scholar, Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University. The panel discussion is scheduled for 4:00 pm EDT on Thursday, March 31, 2011, on the Campus of George Washington University in Washington, DC. Secretary Napoltano Remarks on Border Security: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano is scheduled this week to deliver remarks at a conference sponsored by NDN on the Administration's vision for a "21st Century Border" with Mexico. Following the Secretary's speech, a high-level panel will discuss the contents of the Secretary’s speech and the "21st Century Border" initiative. The Secretary's remarks are scheduled to begin at 9:30 am EDT on Friday, April 1, 2011, at the Newseum in Washington, DC. Panel Discussion on a "21st Century Border" with Mexico: NDN is sponsoring a panel discussion this week to responde to remarks by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on the Administration's vision for a "21st Century Border" with Mexico. Participants in the discussion will include U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce President Alberto Zapanta; Mayor Alan Krieger of Yuma, Arizona; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar. The panel discussion will follow Secretary Napolitano's 9:30 am EDT, Friday, April 1, 2011, remarks at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

Week of March 14, 2011    Congress to Take-Up Sixth Short-Term, Stop-Gap FY '11 Continuing Appropriations Resolution House Appropriations Panel to Hold Hearing on Southwest Border Enforcement House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on Border Protection Issues This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Subcommittee Hearing on Border Protection Issues: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Strengthening the Border - Finding the Right Mix of Personnel, Infrastructure and Technology."  Testifying at the hearing will be Michael J. Fisher, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol; Mark Borkowski, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition, Department of Homeland Security; Michael C. Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Major General Hugo Salazar, Adjutant General, Arizona National Guard; and Richard M. Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Sustice, Government Accountability Office. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on Southwest Border Enforcement: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine southwest border enforcement, including SBInet.  Testifying at the hearing will be Michael J. Fisher, Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Chief; Thomas S. Winkowski, Assistant Commissioner for the Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations; James Dinkins, Executive Associate Director, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, U.S. Coast Guard. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the United Nations and Other International Organizations: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Administration's Fiscal Year 2012  budget for the United Nations and other international organizations.  Testifying at the hearing will be Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; and Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in Room B-308 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Foreign Affairs Committee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Millennium Challenge: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs anticipates holding a hearing this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and for the Millennium Challenge.  Testifying at the hearing will be Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Daniel Yohannes, CEO, Millennium Challenge Corporation. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, no markups were scheduled for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences.     This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor activity on immigration- or refugee-related matters could occur this week in the House or Senate: House and Senate to Take Up Short-Term, Stop-Gap Funding for Fiscal Year 2011:  The full House of Representatives and Senate next week are expected to take up a short-term, stop-gap continuing appropriations resolution to continue funding for the operations of the federal government past Friday, March 18, 2011, when current funding is set to expire.  Among the operations that are set to be shutdown unless Congress acts are USCIS's immigration services; ICE's interior immigration enforcement; CBP's border security; PRM's refugee admissions and assistance; and ORR's refugee, asylum, torture victim assistance, trafficking victim assistance, and unaccompanied alien child assistance functions. On Friday, March 11, 2011, the House Republican Leadership released the text of H.J. Res. 48, a joint resolution that would continue fiscal year 2011 spending through Friday, April 8, 2011, while making $6 BILLION in spending cuts relative to fiscal year 2010.   Allthough about $160 MILLION of the cuts would come from Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (CBP) construction funds, none of the $6 BILLION in cuts would come from refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, refugee resettlement, or immigration service functions or programs.  At the time of this writing, the measure seemed to enjoy bipartisan support in the House because it contains no controversial policy riders and the cuts it would make are by and large noncontroversial.  However, a small-but-growing number of conservative Republicans have indicated their displeasure with the measure because it does not include policy riders that are contained in the House-passed version of H.R. 1, the Fscal Year 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Resolution. Enactment of a short-term, stop-gap spending measure is necessary for three reasons.  First, Congress has not yet enacted any of the fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills that fund the operations of the federal government.  Second, funding under the current stop-gap funding bill expires at Midnight on Friday, March 18, 2011.  And third, Congress is not expected to be able to complete action on a full-year fiscal year 2011 spending measure until well after the current March 18, 2011, deadline. House floor Action on the draft three week-long continuing appropriations measure is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, March 15.  Senate floor action on it could occur as soon as Wednesday, March 16. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.         Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Discussion On Administrative Options to Fix the U.S. Immigration System: The Migration Policy Institute will hold a discussion this week titled, "Steps to Fix the U.S. Immigration System: What Can the Administration Do?"  Participants in the panel presentation will include Donald Kerwin, Vice President for Programs, Migration Policy Institute; Margie McHugh, Co-Director, National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, Migration Policy Institute; Doris Meissner, Director of U.S. Immigration Policy Program and Senior Fellow, Migration Policy Institute; Eva Millona, Executive Director, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition; and Juan P. Osuna, Acting Director, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice.  The panel presentation is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Monday, March 14, 2011, in the Washington, DC Offices of the Migration Policy Institute. Briefing on Refugee Situation in Tunisia: Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Eric Schwartz and U.S. Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator Nancy Lindborg hold a briefing this week on a recent trip they made to Tunisia. The briefing is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Monday, March 14, 2011, at the State Department. Forum on Urban Refugees: Refugee Council USA is planning to hold a forum this week on urban refugees.  Participants in the forum will include António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.  The forum is scheduled to take place from 8:30 am EDT to 4:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, in Room SVC 212-10 of the Capitol Visitors Center.   Discussion on Iraqi Refugees: The Intersections International Iraqi Voices Amplification Project Discussion has organized a discussion for this week titled, "Exploration of how civil society can work together to raise awareness of the displacement of Iraqis and advocate for political change to the current state of Iraqi refugees. The discussion  is scheduled to take place beginning at 2:00 pm EDT on Thursday, March 17, 2011, in the offices of Amplifying Public Affairs; in Washington, DC. Performance of Play About Iraqi Refugees: The Intersections International Iraqi Voices Amplification Project this week is presenting a play titled, "No Place Called Home," an artistic piece "designed to humanize the crisis and give voice to the millions of refugees whose plight has yet to enter broad public consciousness."   The performance will be followed by a discussion. The play and discussion is scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm EDT on Thursday, March 17, 2011, at Busboys and Poets in Washington, DC.

Week of March 7, 2011    Senate to Conduct Votes in Relation to the FY '11 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Resolution ICE's Morton and CBP's Bersin to Testify Before House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on the Employment Prospects of Foreign-Born vs. Natural Born Citizens House Homeland Security Committee to Begin Hearings on Islamic Terrorists Operating in the United States Senate Judiciary Could Consider Immigration Amendments During Markup of USA PATRIOT Act Extension Secretaries Napolitano and Clinton to Testify at Hearings on the Obama FY '12 Budget Request Attorney General Eric Holder to Testify on the Obama FY '12 Department of Justice Budget Request This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Customs and Border Protection Bureau: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Homeland Security's  Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Bureau.  Testifying at the hearing will be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Customs and Border Protection Alan Bersin. The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am EST on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing on the Operations of the Department of Homeland Security: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled an oversight hearing for this week to examine the operations of the Department of Homeland Security.  The sole witness at the hearing will be Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   House Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing on Radical Moslem Terrorists Living in the United States: The House Committee on Homeland Security has scheduled the first of a series of hearings it expects to hold examining al Qaeda’s coordinated radicalization and recruitment of people within the American Muslim community.  The title of the first hearing is, "The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response." At the time of this writing, the witness list for the first hearing had not yet been revealed. The first of the hearings is scheduled for 9:30 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for Foreign Assistance: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs anticipates hold a hearing this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for foreign affairs.  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Judiciary Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Employment of the Foreign-Born in the U.S. Versus Employment of Natural Born U.S. Citizens: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Enforcement and Policy is planning to hold a hearing this week examining the question of whether foreign-born persons in the United States are more successful in finding jobs than native-born U.S. citizens.  The title of this week's hearing is “New Jobs in Recession and Recovery: Who Are Getting Them and Who Are Not.”  At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not been announced. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the U.S. Department of Justice: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Justice, which is the parent agency of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).  The sole witness for the hearing will be Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. The hearing is scheduled for 11:00 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Room SD-192 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Bureau.  Testifying at the hearing will be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Morton. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Friday, March 11, 2011, in Room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Department of Health and Human Services: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services.  Testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (which is the parent agency for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)). The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Friday, March 11, 2011, in Room 2358-C of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science to Hear from Members and Public Witnesses: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing for this week to hear the views of Members of Congress and public witnesses on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Departments of Justice (which operates the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)) and other agencies under the Subcommittee's jurisdiction.  The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Friday, March 11, 2011, in Room H-309 of the U.S. Capitol Building.   This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups are scheduled for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Senate Judiciary Committee Markup of USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Bill: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary is planning to conduct a markup this week of S. 193, the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2011, which could be the target for several immigration-related amendments. The Committee has scheduled the markup for 10:00 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   House Judiciary Subcommittee Markup Relating to Private Immigration Bills: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a markup for this week to adopt rules of procedure and a statement of policy for private immigration bills; a statement of policy on federal charters, and to request Department of Homeland Security Departmental Reports on the beneficiaries of tseveral private bills. The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn Office Building.     This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor activity on immigration- or refugee-related matters could occur this week in the House or Senate: Full Senate to Take Up a Full-Year Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Appropriations Measure: The full Senate this week is expected to hold procedural votes in relation to the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Appropriations Resolution.   The White House has offered $6.5 BILLION of yet-to-be-publicly-identified cuts in programs that, when combined with the $4 BILLION in cuts that were included in H.J. Res. 44, would total $10.5 BILLION in discretionary spending cuts, when compared to fiscal year 2010 appropriations.    The Senate Democratic Leadership will attempt to bring two appropriations measures to the Senate floor this week.  The first will be the House-passed version of H.R. 1, a full-year fiscal year 2011 continuing appropriations resolution.  The second will be a Senate Appropriations Committee-drafted alternative continuing appropriations resolution that includes the White House-identified $6.5 BILLION in discretionary spending cuts but otherwise would continue spending on most other items at their fiscal year 2010 level.  The Senate Democratic Leadership intends to attempt to bring the measures before the full Senate this week under procedures that will require each to win the affirmative votes of 60 senators.  It is widely believed that neither version will be able to muster 60 votes under that scenario.  Some are speculating that the Senate Democratic Leadership's thinking is that the likely failure of both measures to win the requisite number of votes to proceed in the Senate would make it clear to both conservative House Republicans and more liberally-minded Senate Democrats that a compromise between the two approaches will be necessary in order for a full-year fiscal year 2011 appropriations bill to be enacted into law. The House-passed version of H.R. 1 would make deep cuts in refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and refugee resettlement programs; cuts in funding for some border security efforts; bar funding for immigration integration; and relax existing restrictions on funding for fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico.  The text of the Senate alternative was not publicly available at the time of this writing.  Accordingly, it is not possible to determine with certainty to what degree the $6.5 BILLION in cuts that the White House has identified would impact refugee or immigration agencies, functions, programs, and activities.  However, it has been reported that the cuts would come from a list of program terminations and reductions hat were contained in President Obama's fiscal year 2012 budget submission.  None of those terminations or reductions would impact refugee or immigration agencies, functions, programs, and activities. The full Senate is likely to begin to hold votes in relation to the fiscal year 2011 full-year continuing appropriations resolution sometime this week, perhaps as soon as Tuesday, March 8. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.         Off of the House and Senate Floors           At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Presentation on Revisiting Skill- and Family-Based Immigration: The Urban Institute is planning to hold a panel presentation this week titled, "Is It Time to Revisit Skill- and Family-Based Immigration?"  Participants in the panel presentation will include Michael Fix, senior vice president and director of studies, Migration Policy Institute; Harry Holzer, Institute fellow, Urban Institute; professor, Georgetown Public Policy Institute; Pia Orrenius, senior economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; author, Beside the Golden Door: U.S. Immigration Reform in a New Era of Globalization; and Esther Olavarria, deputy assistant secretary for policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  The panel presentation is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EST on Monday, March 7, 2011, at the offices of the Urban Institute in washington, DC. Freedom Network USA Conference on Trafficking in Humans: Freedom Network USA is holding its ninth annual conference on "The Future of Freedom: Shaping Tomorrow's Anti-Trafficking Movement" this week.    The conference is being held from March 9 - March 10 at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, DC. Remarks by USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas at NAAG Spring Conference: The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is holding its 2011 Spring Conference this week, during which it will hear remarks by Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureau.  Director Mayorkas will address the conference at 10:20 am EST on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC. Senator Lindsey Graham Talks About National Security and Foreign Affairs:  The Henry L. Stimson Center will sponsor an address from Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Ranking Minority Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on national security, international affairs and global issues.  The subject of refugees could come up during either his remarks or the question and answer session.  The address is scheduled for 12:30 pm EST on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, at the Henry L. Stimson Center in Washington, DC. Discussion about the Obama-Calderon Meeting: Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) will hold a discussion titled "Reviewing the Obama-Calderon Meeting."  Participant in the discussion will include Francisco Gonzalez, Associate Professor of Latin American studies, Nitze School of International Affairs; and Sergio Aguayo, Professor, El Colegio de Mexico. The discussion is being held at 12:45 pm EST on Wednesday, March 9, 2011, in the Nize Building in Washington, DC. News Conference on Latinos and Political Ads: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) will hold a news conference call this week to "denounce reprehensible political rhetoric against Latinos."  Participants in the telephonic news conference will include Clarissa Martinez-De Castro of the National Council of La Raza. The telephonic news conference is scheduled for 1:30 pm EST on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Remarks by Ambassador Luis CdeBaca at Freedom Network USA Trafficking Conference: Ambassador-at-Large Luis CdeBaca of the U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons will make opening remarks at the Freedom Network USA's ninth annual conference on "The Future of Freedom: Shaping Tomorrow's Anti-Trafficking Movement."  Ambassador CdeBaca will address the conference at 8:30 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, DC. Panel Presentation on the Federal Overview on Trafficking at Freedom Network USA Trafficking Conference: Stephen Adaway, Section Chief of the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit at Immigrations and Customs Enforcement; and Hilary Axam, Acting Director of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, will participate in a Plenary at the Freedom Network USA's ninth annual conference on "The Future of Freedom: Shaping Tomorrow's Anti-Trafficking Movement." The Plenary is scheduled for 8:45 am EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011, at the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center in Washington, DC. News Conference on  Immigration Policy and Recent Congressional Hearings: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) will hold a news conference call this week to "denounce reprehensible political rhetoric against Latinos."  Participants in the telephonic news conference will include Clarissa Martinez-De Castro of the National Council of La Raza, Frank Sharry, Executive Director, America's Voice; and Michele Waslin, Senior Policy Analyst, Immigration Policy Center. The telephonic news conference is scheduled for 1:00 pm EST on Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Week of February 28, 2011    House and Senate Return from a Week-Long Recess President Obama and Mexican President Filipe Calderon to Meet in Oval Office House Judiciary Panel to Wade Into Divisive Issue of Race and Immigration in Subcommittee Hearing House and Senate to Take Up Two Week-Long Short-Term, Stop-Gap Continuing Appropriations Resolution Congressional Leadership Negotiate Stop-Gap FY '11 Funding Bill Under Threat of Government Shutdown Senate Judiciary Could Consider Immigration Amendments During Markup of USA PATRIOT Act Extension Secretary Napolitano to Testify at Multiple Hearings on the Obama FY '12 Homeland Security Budget Request Secretary Clinton to Testify at Multiple Hearings on the Obama FY '12 Foreign Affairs Budget Request Attorney General Eric Holder to Testify on the Obama FY '12 Department of Justice Budget Request Immigration Policy Debate Possible As Senate Ponders Full-Year FY '11 Continuing Appropriations Measure This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Department of Justice: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Administration's Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Justice (which operates the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. The hearing is scheduled for 9:00 am EST on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Foreign Affairs Committee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Department of State: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of State.  The title of the hearing is "Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities and Needs Amidst Economic Challenges."  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Hearing on Immigration Policy: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement is planning to hold a hearing for this week on the impact of low-skilled immigration and illegal immigration on minorities in the United States.  The title of the hearing is "Making Immigration Work for American Minorities."  Testifying at the hearing will be Carol M. Swain, Professor, Vanderbilt University; Frank L. Morris, Vice President, Progressives for Immigration Reform; George Rodriguez, President, San Antonio Tea Party, San Antonio, Texas; and Wade Henderson, President and CEO, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Tuesday, March 1, 2011.  It likely will be held in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Department of State: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of State.  The title of the hearing will be "National Security & Foreign Policy Priorities in the Fiscal Year 2012 International Affairs Budget.  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am EST on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Room SD-106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Department of Homeland Security: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Homeland Security.  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Room SD-138 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.   Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the Department of State: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of State.  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EST on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Room SD-192 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Homeland Security Budget: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Homeland Security.  Testifying at the hearing will be Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EST on Wednesday, March 2, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing on the President's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Homeland Security Budget: The House Committee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the Obama Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the Department of Homeland Security.  Scheduled to testify at the hearing is Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am EST on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Hold Oversight Hearing on the Foreign Policy Operations of the Department of State: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled an oversight hearing for this week to examine the foreign operations of the U.S. Department of State.  The sole witness testifying at the hearing will be Jacquelyn Williams-Bridgers, Director, International Affairs and Trade Issues, Government Accountability Office (GAO). The hearing is scheduled for 1:00 pm EST on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Room HT-2 of the U.S. Capitol Building.   This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups are scheduled for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Hold Organizational Meeting for the 112th Congress: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is planning to hold its organizational meeting for the 112th Congress this week, at which it will approve committee rules, subcommittee membership and jurisdiction, and an original resolution authorizing expenditures by the committee during the 112th Congress. The Committee has scheduled the organizational meeting for 2:15 pm EST on Tuesday, March 1, 2011, in Room S-116 of the U.S. Capitol Building. Senate Judiciay Committee Markup of USA Patriot Act Reauthorization Bill: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary is planning to conduct a  markup this week of S. 193, the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of 2011, which could be the target for several immigration-related amendments. The Committee has scheduled the markup of 10:00 am EST on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.     This Week’s Floor Activity