Senate set to approve immigration compromise on May 24

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asnssf

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Senate set to approve immigration compromise on May 24 - What it means to us ?

News

WASHINGTON -- The Senate, in a key test vote yesterday, gave broad bipartisan support to a major overhaul of the nation's immigration laws that would strengthen border security while giving millions of undocumented foreigners a chance to gain citizenship.

By a 73-25 vote, the Senate agreed to curtail debate on the bill, assuring its passage as soon as today. Sixty "yes" votes were needed to prevent a filibuster.

"We're now down the home stretch," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"This was an overwhelming show of force to move forward on our common-sense and comprehensive plan," said Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). "Americans are demanding action, and we have powerful momentum going forward."

New Jersey Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both supporters of the immigration bill, voted in favor of bringing it to a quick vote.

The Senate also voted on a number of amendments. Of the several it rejected, one by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) sought to derail the bill on the claim that its long-term costs would violate budget rules.

The Senate adopted an amendment for a $500 increase in the penalty that undocumented foreigners would have to pay as they seek legal status under provisions of the bill. The new penalty would be $3,250.

Another amendment approved yesterday would require that at least 33,000 of the 50,000 visas issued every year under an existing lottery program go to workers who hold advanced degrees.

Once the bill is approved, the senators will face the difficult task of reconciling it with a very different version passed by the House in December.

The House bill calls for new border security and workplace enforcement measures similar to those adopted by the Senate, but it does not include the Senate provisions creating a guest-worker program and legalizing many of the estimated 12 million undocumented foreigners now in the country. Instead it would declare all illegal immigrants to be felons.
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I am not sure what this means to us in EB2 and EB3 waiting list..
 
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Small hurdle passed.. trouble yet to begin ..

asnssf said:
News

WASHINGTON -- The Senate, in a key test vote yesterday, gave broad bipartisan support to a major overhaul of the nation's immigration laws that would strengthen border security while giving millions of undocumented foreigners a chance to gain citizenship.

By a 73-25 vote, the Senate agreed to curtail debate on the bill, assuring its passage as soon as today. Sixty "yes" votes were needed to prevent a filibuster.

"We're now down the home stretch," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

"This was an overwhelming show of force to move forward on our common-sense and comprehensive plan," said Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). "Americans are demanding action, and we have powerful momentum going forward."

New Jersey Democratic Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both supporters of the immigration bill, voted in favor of bringing it to a quick vote.

The Senate also voted on a number of amendments. Of the several it rejected, one by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) sought to derail the bill on the claim that its long-term costs would violate budget rules.

The Senate adopted an amendment for a $500 increase in the penalty that undocumented foreigners would have to pay as they seek legal status under provisions of the bill. The new penalty would be $3,250.

Another amendment approved yesterday would require that at least 33,000 of the 50,000 visas issued every year under an existing lottery program go to workers who hold advanced degrees.

Once the bill is approved, the senators will face the difficult task of reconciling it with a very different version passed by the House in December.

The House bill calls for new border security and workplace enforcement measures similar to those adopted by the Senate, but it does not include the Senate provisions creating a guest-worker program and legalizing many of the estimated 12 million undocumented foreigners now in the country. Instead it would declare all illegal immigrants to be felons.
....

I am not sure what this means to us in EB2 and EB3 waiting list..
Click to expand...

asnssf,

The bill will defenitely pass the Senate now but the House is in no mood to work out a solution. Most Congressman are politicizing this issue and using it to appeal to their conservative contituents. The Senate version of the bill has provisions for citizenship for illegals and I believe the House will stick to its guns about not allowing that. The Senate will demand that these provisions stay in the reconciled bill. There is bound to be a stalemate here ...

This bill will become law only if the White House is able to convince enough members of the House to sign of on the idea of the "Guest Worker program" and "Path to citizenship". With the unpopularity of Bush and his policies it will be hard for the White House to persuade the strong conservative base in the House. Infact, Republicans in the House will most likely use the "citizenship" clause to claim that its "amnesty" and will try to further distance themselves from the administration and their policies. Most Republican Congressman know that its best to not align themselves with an unpopular President and his administration. Even if they feel that the "citizenship" provisions are reasonable, a lot of them will vote against it in order to seem in line with the American public. They are just trying to improve their re-election chances in Novemeber.

Its a total political game to these guys. Immigrants are getting screwed in this whole election year fiasco ...

regards,

saras76
 
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what about h1 and H4

Can any of H4 or H1 be in the line if this bill passed?. Saying that I worked so and so place illegally.
 
20% of battle won

The bill will now be referred to Senate conference committee. Remember in December last year S.1932 passed senate but the section 8 (for legal immigrants) of this bill was dropped by this committee in the third week of december. So if the section pertaining to our interest in the current bill passes the conference committee then it will be a major achievement. The committee should be done in 2-3 weeks. Then the house and senate will vote and approve the bill that comes out of conference before being presented to President for signature. So guys it could be 3 to 6 months before we see this bill coming into effect but the big question is whether the sections in the bill for legal immigrants will remain in the final version or not? Keep your fingers crossed.

http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=892
 
Immigration Voice is doing a Webfax and Phone Campaign to oppose Bingaman Amendments SA 4131 which is being discussed on the Senate floor at this time. This amendment will reduce the EB visa numbers.

For go the following links to oppose this amendment by sending webfaxes and participating in the phone campaign:

Web-fax
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=941

Phone campaign
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=942

Please help by oppose Bingaman Amendments SA 4131.

Thank You.
 
This bill will pass eventually

Something in me says that this bill will eventually pass after all hurdles and debates. It whole immigration fiasco is gaining momemtum everyday and they have to come up with something.

However unpopular a president is, he is still a powerful person and if he wants something pushed, he will know how to get it done. These people in power get most things achieved behind the scenes through negotiations and they are very good at it too.
 
Hi All,

It is a VERY GOOD NEWS

IMMIGRATION VOICE HAS DELIVERED, NOW IT’S YOUR TURN.

Senator Arlen Specter bill is accepted in Senate, some of the provisions are

1. Lets everyone file 485, if their labor is approved even if their priority date is not current.

2. Remove the hard limit on countries so that over-subscribed countries like India and China are allowed to use visa numbers that ARE NOT USED by other countries with low number of applicants.

3. STEM applicants would be allowed to be exempt from cap even if they have not been working in exactly the same discipline as their STEM master’s degree. This will be a huge relief for many in EB3 and majority of EB2 applicants as they would become exempt from cap.

Friends, Immigration Voice (http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php) has delivered what it promised.

This achieves the goal of IV, for the time being as far as Senate proceedings go. There is a lot more to do, as the House-Senate conference proceedings are going to be on final consequence to this bill. We have our work cut out in front of us.

We need more volunteers and funding to further our cause.

Please join Immigration Voice and contribute.

Can't you spare few dollars for an effort that is going to change your life forever in the US ?
 
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