S.2454 -- Securing America's Borders Act

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GOD_BLESS_YOU

Registered Users (C)
Here is Link for the Bill Frist Bill introduced yesterday

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.2454:

provisions related to immigration

TITLE IV--BACKLOG REDUCTION AND VISAS FOR STUDENTS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, AND ALIENS WITH ADVANCED DEGREES

SEC. 401. ELIMINATION OF EXISTING BACKLOGS.

(a) Family-Sponsored Immigrants- Section 201(c) (8 U.S.C. 1151(c)) is amended to read as follows:

`(c) Worldwide Level of Family-Sponsored Immigrants- The worldwide level of family-sponsored immigrants under this subsection for a fiscal year is equal to the sum of--

`(1) 480,000;

`(2) the difference between the maximum number of visas authorized to be issued under this subsection during the previous fiscal year and the number of visas issued during the previous fiscal year;

`(3) the difference between--

`(A) the maximum number of visas authorized to be issued under this subsection during fiscal years 2001 through 2005 minus the number of visas issued under this subsection during those fiscal years; and

`(B) the number of visas calculated under subparagraph (A) that were issued after fiscal year 2005.'.

(b) Employment-Based Immigrants- Section 201(d) (8 U.S.C. 1151(d)) is amended to read as follows:

`(d) Worldwide Level of Employment-Based Immigrants-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Subject to paragraph (2), the worldwide level of employment-based immigrants under this subsection for a fiscal year is equal to the sum of--

`(A) 290,000;

`(B) the difference between the maximum number of visas authorized to be issued under this subsection during the previous fiscal year and the number of visas issued during the previous fiscal year; and

`(C) the difference between--

`(i) the maximum number of visas authorized to be issued under this subsection during fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and the number of visa numbers issued under this subsection during those fiscal years; and

`(ii) the number of visas calculated under clause (i) that were issued after fiscal year 2005.

`(2) VISAS FOR SPOUSES AND CHILDREN- Immigrant visas issued on or after October 1, 2004, to spouses and children of employment-based immigrants shall not be counted against the numerical limitation set forth in paragraph (1).'.

SEC. 402. COUNTRY LIMITS.

Section 202(a) (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (2)--

(A) by striking `, (4), and (5)' and inserting `and (4)'; and

(B) by striking `7 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 2 percent' and inserting `10 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 5 percent'; and

(2) by striking paragraph (5).

SEC. 403. ALLOCATION OF IMMIGRANT VISAS.

(a) Preference Allocation for Family-Sponsored Immigrants- Section 203(a) (8 U.S.C. 1153(a)) is amended to read as follows:

`(a) Preference Allocations for Family-Sponsored Immigrants- Aliens subject to the worldwide level specified in section 201(c) for family-sponsored immigrants shall be allocated visas as follows:

`(1) UNMARRIED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CITIZENS- Qualified immigrants who are the unmarried sons or daughters of citizens of the United States shall be allocated visas in a quantity not to exceed the sum of--

`(A) 10 percent of such worldwide level; and

`(B) any visas not required for the class specified in paragraph (4).

`(2) SPOUSES AND UNMARRIED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Visas in a quantity not to exceed 50 percent of such worldwide level plus any visas not required for the class specified in paragraph (1) shall be allocated to qualified immigrants who are--

`(i) the spouses or children of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence; or

`(ii) the unmarried sons or daughters of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.

`(B) MINIMUM PERCENTAGE- Visas allocated to individuals described in subparagraph (A)(i) shall constitute not less than 77 percent of the visas allocated under this paragraph.

`(3) MARRIED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CITIZENS- Qualified immigrants who are the married sons and daughters of citizens of the United States shall be allocated visas in a quantity not to exceed the sum of--

`(A) 10 percent of such worldwide level; and

`(B) any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) and (2).

`(4) BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CITIZENS- Qualified immigrants who are the brothers or sisters of a citizen of the United States who is at least 21 years of age shall be allocated visas in a quantity not to exceed 30 percent of the worldwide level.'.

(b) Preference Allocation for Employment-Based Immigrants- Section 203(b) (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `28.6 percent' and inserting `15 percent';

(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking `28.6 percent' and inserting `15 percent';

(3) in paragraph (3)(A)--

(A) by striking `28.6 percent' and inserting `35 percent'; and

(B) by striking clause (iii);

(4) by striking paragraph (4);

(5) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4);

(6) in paragraph (4)(A), as redesignated, by striking `7.1 percent' and inserting `5 percent';

(7) by inserting after paragraph (4), as redesignated, the following:

`(5) OTHER WORKERS- Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 30 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visa numbers not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) through (4), to qualified immigrants who are capable, at the time of petitioning for classification under this paragraph, of performing unskilled labor that is not of a temporary or seasonal nature, for which qualified workers are determined to be unavailable in the United States.'; and

(8) by striking paragraph (6).

(c) Conforming Amendments-

(1) DEFINITION OF SPECIAL IMMIGRANT- Section 101(a)(27)(M) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(M)) is amended by striking `subject to the numerical limitations of section 203(b)(4),'.

(2) REPEAL OF TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN WORKERS' VISAS- Section 203(e) of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (Public Law 105-100; 8 U.S.C. 1153 note) is repealed.

SEC. 404. RELIEF FOR MINOR CHILDREN.

(a) In General- Section 201(b)(2) (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows:

`(2)(A)(i) Aliens admitted under section 211(a) on the basis of a prior issuance of a visa under section 203(a) to their accompanying parent who is an immediate relative.

`(ii) In this subparagraph, the term `immediate relative' means a child, spouse, or parent of a citizen of the United States (and each child of such child, spouse, or parent who is accompanying or following to join the child, spouse, or parent), except that, in the case of parents, such citizens shall be at least 21 years of age.

`(iii) An alien who was the spouse of a citizen of the United States for not less than 2 years at the time of the citizen's death and was not legally separated from the citizen at the time of the citizen's death, and each child of such alien, shall be considered, for purposes of this subsection, to remain an immediate relative after the date of the citizen's death if the spouse files a petition under section 204(a)(1)(A)(ii) before the earlier of--

`(I) 2 years after such date; or

`(II) the date on which the spouse remarries.

`(iv) In this clause, an alien who has filed a petition under clause (iii) or (iv) of section 204(a)(1)(A) remains an immediate relative if the United States citizen spouse or parent loses United States citizenship on account of the abuse.

`(B) Aliens born to an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence during a temporary visit abroad.'.

(b) Petition- Section 204(a)(1)(A)(ii) (8 U.S.C. 1154 (a)(1)(A)(ii)) is amended by striking `in the second sentence of section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) also' and inserting `in section 201(b)(2)(A)(iii) or an alien child or alien parent described in the 201(b)(2)(A)(iv)'.
 
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3/16/2006:
Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.
3/16/2006:
Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.
3/16/2006:
Ordered placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 376.

for discussion on March 27th
 
In the same bill they are allowing 11 millions illegals to become PR. Do think this become overhead on USCIS and evntually endup worrse when it comes to processing time even we have enough green cards.

Any thoughts??
 
There is poison in the bill ..

It is not good for India and China

SEC. 402. COUNTRY LIMITS.

Section 202(a) (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (2)--

(A) by striking `, (4), and (5)' and inserting `and (4)'; and

(B) by striking `7 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 2 percent' and inserting `10 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 5 percent'; and

(2) by striking paragraph (5).
 
Friday, 03/17/06

Frist takes issue of immigration into own hands

He offers bill after Senate panel misses his deadline



JONATHAN WEISMAN
The Washington Post


WASHINGTON — Frustrated by the Senate Judiciary Committee's slow progress on politically sensitive immigration legislation, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., introduced his own bill last night to secure the nation's borders and crack down on illegal immigration.

Frist's bill would go directly to the full Senate. But he said he would allow Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., to substitute a committee bill if Specter's committee can approve one March 27. Otherwise, the majority leader will stick to a strict, two-week schedule to finish work on what he conceded would be "as challenging a bill as any we'll have to address this year."




The majority leader's power move stunned committee Republicans and Democrats, who have been struggling to reach agreement on a comprehensive immigration bill for three weeks. Specter said he objected to the maneuver.

"It would be chaos on the floor to have this bill debated without the committee acting first," Specter said yesterday afternoon, only to grudgingly accept Frist's move in the evening.

Some Republican aides said they believed presidential politics were at work. Frist, a prospective candidate for 2008, left out of his bill the guest-worker program that President Bush has demanded and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. — a potential White House rival — has championed. Such a program is unpopular with many conservative voters, who see it as amnesty for illegal immigrants. Many Republicans believe a new get-tough law is one of the few pieces of legislation that must be passed before the November elections if the GOP is to maintain the allegiance of conservative voters.

Frist said he was motivated by a belief that only prompt Senate action will allow Senate and House negotiators to reach a compromise on a final bill this year. The House passed a border security bill in December that did not include a guest-worker program.

Senators from both parties have come to near agreement on provisions bolstering the U.S. border patrol, adding new technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles and raising penalties on illegal immigrants and those who aid them. Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, neared agreement yesterday on a guest-worker program that could smooth the way to bipartisan passage of a Judiciary Committee bill when lawmakers return from a weeklong break next week.

Under the deal, Kennedy agreed that illegal immigrants who qualify for a guest-worker visa would have to go to their home countries for a year before applying for a visa extension of three or four additional years. But, Senate aides said, that one-year return could be waived if guest workers' employers say their continued labor is necessary or if a guest worker can prove a consistent work history. •
 
First Class Bill by Bill Frist

We are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Atlast our cries are reaching the ears of the powerful senators. It is indeed heartening to note the clauses to increase the EB greencard numbers in the Frist Bill :)
Hope this bill have a smooth sailing in the Senate and overcome the hurdles in the House.
 
can_card, IV is aware of this and is working on it.


can_card said:
It is not good for India and China

SEC. 402. COUNTRY LIMITS.

Section 202(a) (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (2)--

(A) by striking `, (4), and (5)' and inserting `and (4)'; and

(B) by striking `7 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 2 percent' and inserting `10 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 5 percent'; and

(2) by striking paragraph (5).
Click to expand...
 
?Behind-the-scenes efforts paid off!

There will probably be changes over the course of 2 weeks discussion in the Senate.
Guys if you notice that something great just happened! Never thought it might be possible - but EB Visas relief is assured in both scenarios, whether Frist sticks to his Bill or something comes out of Specter's markup!
Our issues are clearly delinked from illegal immigration!
?Could be that IV behind-the-scenes efforts paid off in this case?
Of course, the real battle will be after what happens in the Senate! So much more is needed!
But, I am beginning to believe in the IV guys!
 
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I don't think this guy is in the mood to compromise...

TANCREDO ISSUES STATEMENT ON FRIST IMMIGRATION BILL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Chairman of the 94-Member House Immigration Reform Caucus, issued the following statement today regarding Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s immigration bill:

“Leader Frist’s bill is a serious attempt to stem the flow of massive illegal immigration. It adds significant manpower and infrastructure resources to the border, and it penalizes employers who hire illegal aliens. The House needs the Senate to follow Frist’s lead in order to get a reform bill to the President’s desk this year.

“The bill fails, however, when it marries enforcement with a doubling of legal immigration. Our legal immigration system is overwhelmed and undermanned as it is without adding millions of immigrants to it.

“Frist’s enforcement approach is a sane alternative to the Judiciary Committee’s March Madness amnesty. Americans have waited long enough for strong borders—the ball is in the Senate’s court, and we’re all waiting for them to deliver.”

Bottom Line --> Frist's bill may be ok for us, but in the conference the legal immigration provisions may meet the same fate as S.1932. McCain-Kennedy comes closest to solving the whole problem. IMHO, don't think Frist will fight for legal immigration provisions in the conference. And Frist's bill works of Specter's markup which penalises EB-1/EB-2 to a certain extent by reducing the numbers. McCain-Kennedy does not cut the numbers that much as Frist's bill does. Of course, it will all unfold in a week or so and we will know which bill goes to the Senate floor. A week is a long time in politics and any bill could be voted on. One thing is certain: If a bill passes, ("three-terms only")Tancredo will be either the hero or the villian. There is a lot at stake for him politically. This is his pet issue. He is also up for re-election this year.
 
can_card said:
It is not good for India and China

SEC. 402. COUNTRY LIMITS.

Section 202(a) (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)) is amended--

(1) in paragraph (2)--

(A) by striking `, (4), and (5)' and inserting `and (4)'; and

(B) by striking `7 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 2 percent' and inserting `10 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 5 percent'; and

(2) by striking paragraph (5).
Click to expand...
Can_card,

what do you mean by when you say:
"there is poison in this bill"

Can you explain this in layman's terms? Why is it not good for India and China?
 
paragraph 5 basically says that if in any "quarter" the demand for total number of visas are less than the actual number , then the remaining numbers can be used for oversubscribed countries .
so for example if eb-2 visa demand in any quarter are less than the quota then they could be used for India and china (which are oversubscribed)

if this provision is stuck out, then India and China are stuck to just 10% numbers(per country limit) (they will not have the ability to use the unused numbers due to lack of demand from other countries)
 
Thanks. That's not good for India/China.

Does McCain-Kennedy also have the same provision of striking out paragraph 5?
 
There will be active Discussion on Border Control Bill S. 2454 today at senate

Floor Calendar for Thursday, March 30, 2006

Border Control Bill

The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m. for a period of morning business for up to an hour. The Senate will then resume consideration of S. 2454, the Border Control Bill. Senator Specter will offer his substitute amendment at noon. Votes are expected.
 
Frist Wants Immigration Vote This Week
By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 26 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Sunday he wants a full Senate vote on an immigration bill this week and believes that urgent action is needed despite sharp divisions over whether proposed legislation would amount to amnesty.


"There are 3 million people every year coming across our borders illegally. We don't know who they are; we don't know what their intentions are. We absolutely must address it," said Frist, R-Tenn. "I hope by Friday that we will have a bill on the floor that is comprehensive."

A chief sponsor of a House bill, meanwhile, also called on the Senate to avoid deadlock so lawmakers in both houses can start work on reaching a compromise "for our national security and our economic well-being."

"No bill will end up being the worst of all possible worlds," said Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. "This will be tough, and it's the toughest thing that I've done in 37 years in elective public office. But it is an important priority."

The Senate Judiciary Committee last week approved a bill aimed at strengthening enforcement of U.S. borders, regulating the flow into the country of so-called guest workers, and determining the legal future of the illegal population scattered across all 50 states.

The Senate version, which passed 12-6 in committee and was broadly endorsed by President Bush, goes further than the House bill that imposes criminal penalties, proposes building a fence along the borders and is limited to enforcement.

Still, several lawmakers, including Frist, have criticized as unacceptable the Senate provisions that would let illegal aliens already in the U.S. seek citizenship without returning to their home country, paying fines and learning English.

Saying that issue was the "fundamental question," Frist said Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition" that he believes the final Senate version will address ways to provide eventual legal status to some of the 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.

"I don't think we should legislate a track that gives a privileged status to people who broke the law," Frist said. "If somebody is here and they're a felon or multiple misdemeanors or somebody who is not working, someone who has been here for a year ... yes, I think they'd have to go back home."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., predicted the full Senate will approve the committee's bill and doubted that some Republicans will try to stage a filibuster to block it.

"It would be political suicide for our party to filibuster a comprehensive solution to a real problem facing America," Graham said on "Fox News Sunday." "It would be political suicide to ignore there's 11 million people, illegally undocumented, who are trying to work and add value to our country."

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, said it is "conceivable" the Senate will reach consensus but called the House bill unacceptable. Allowing illegal aliens already here to seek citizenship is necessary since deporting millions of workers is unrealistic, he said.

"People will have to demonstrate that they're working hard and they're paying taxes, that they have no criminal record," said Durbin, who appeared with Sensenbrenner on CBS' "Face the Nation."

"Some will be able to meet these requirements; some will not. But it's the only way to bring people out of the shadows and have a system consistent with American values," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060403/ap_on_go_co/immigration
 
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