S. 2611
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Senate Bill 2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act) (abbreviated CIRA), is a United States Senate bill dealing with immigration reform. It proposes to increase security along the southern United States border with Mexico, allows long-time illegal immigrants to gain citizenship with some restrictions, and to increase the number of guest workers over and above those already present in the U.S. through a new "blue card" visa program. The sponsor of S. 2611 is Senator Arlen Specter, who introduced it on April 7, 2006. It was passed on May 25, 2006, by a vote of 62-36. Cloture was invoked, which limited debate to a 30 hour period. The parallel House Bill H.R. 4437 deals with immigration differently.
Background
Currently there are estimated to be between 11 and 12 million illegal immigrants living within the United States. On December 16, 2005, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4437, which aims at improving the US-Mexican border security and increasing penalties for employers and smugglers of illegal immigrants. While most are supportive of increased border security, there have been various approaches to handle problems related to the large number of illegal immigrants already present in the country. The problems associated with illegal immigrants are unlicensed and uninsured drivers, identification theft and fraud, and employment fraud, and health services fraud.The first approach to deal with this issue is to allow current illegal immigrants to apply for citizenship, after paying back taxes and a fine. Preference is given to those who have been present in the country for the longer periods of time and they must also pass the usual citizenship requirements. Critics of this approach point out that this rewards illegal behavior and can encourage greater illegal immigration into the country which would make the efforts at border security more difficult and call it essentially an amnesty that undermines the rule of law.
The second approach is to encourage illegal immigrants to return voluntarily to their original countries. This approach involves drying up employment opportunities for illegal immigrants by imposing stiffer fines and wider enforcement on employers of illegal immigrants. It closes loopholes that allow a illegal immigrants, once detained, to stay for extended periods of time, stops the "catch and release" system, and connects local law enforcement agencies to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It also imposes harder penalties on smugglers of, and anyone aiding, illegal immigrants. Critics of this approach say that this is unduly harsh on the illegal population and usually claim that this approach could only be motivated by xenophobia.
- See also the United States immigration debate.
Analysis
The major difference between the H.R. 4437 and S. 2611 is that there is a citizenship path proposed in S. 2611. This would allow illegal immigrants who have been in the country for more than five years, estimated to be 7 million in number, to apply for citizenship by paying fines and back taxes. Those who have been in the country for 2 to 5 years, numbering around 3 million, would be allowed to stay in the country without fear of deportation, but after 3 years would have to return and could apply for citizenship at border check points. Those in the country for under 2 years would be required to return to their original nations. Thus, with some waiting, 10 million illegal immigrants can become citizens, if they so desire. The fine is around $2000, but some sources say it might be higher.
S. 2611 also introduces a H-2C visa, or "blue card". This visa allows employers to bring in outside workers for up to 6 years after which the employee must spend one year in their original country. S. 2611 proposes 370 mile of fencing along highly populated areas near the border compared to the 700 miles of H.R. 4437 does. S. 2611 does not mention any expanded role for local law enforcement for border enforcement tasks (Primarily for interior enforcement) the way that H.R. 4437 does. There is an added clause that proposes that English is the language of the United States with no specifics.
The bill would also increase the annual cap for H-1B work visas from 65,000 to 115,000 with an automatic 20% increase year on year, thus increasing the number of information technology and other professionals from foreign countries eligible to work in the U.S. It also would lower the standard by which judges determine who is eligible for refugee status from "clear and convincing evidence" to "substantial evidence".
It would allow illegal immigrants to collect social security benefits based on past work. Also, the United States federal government would have to consult with Mexican officials before commencement of any fence construction on the U.S. side of the border. According to the Congressional Budget Office, illegal entries per year would still number 800,000 by 2016.[CBO Cost Esimates]
This bill has been compared to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
Negative Reactions
The Federation for American Immigration Reform stated that
- The Senate today passed a "comprehensive immigration reform" bill that is neither comprehensive nor in any sense a true reform. This legislation -- were it enacted into law -- throws into question the legitimacy of the entire immigration system in the United States, and its formulation exposes deep flaws in the very process how immigration laws are made in this country.[Statement from FAIR]
- If enacted, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (CIRA, S.2611) would be the most dramatic change in immigration law in 80 years, allowing an estimated 103 million persons to legally immigrate to the U.S. over the next 20 years—fully one-third of the current population of the United States. (This number was later revised downward to 66 million, or one fifth the current population of the United States)''
- A key feature of CIRA is that most immigrants identified as “temporary” are, in fact, given convertible status with a virtually unrestricted opportunity to become legal permanent residents and then citizens.[Statement from The Heritage Foundation]
The President of the IEEE, a commenting on the increase H-1B visas stated,
- The bill opens the spigot on numerous skilled visa categories. The question is how many high-tech workers can the United States absorb annually without driving up unemployment and driving down wages?[Statement from IEEE]
Positive Reactions
In favor of the legislation, the National Immigration Forum stated
- Today, the U.S. Senate achieved a historic bipartisan breakthrough in the Senate in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. In stark contrast to the unworkable and punitive House bill enacted last December, the Senate bill has the right architecture and the right elements for comprehensive immigration reform. The bill would legalize an estimated 8 to 8.5 million undocumented immigrants and their families over the next 6 to 8 years...[Statement from National Immigration Forum]
- We have deep concerns about some of the provisions in this bill, but in the end the Senate has voted today to put millions of immigrants on a path to U.S. citizenship, and to enact the DREAM Act and AgJOBS compromise. This is a major step forward in a debate that is vital to our community and to the nation.[Statement from NCLR]
Provisions
S. 2611 sets forth border security and enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting [link]:(1) personnel and asset increases and enhancements; (2) a National Strategy for Border Security; (3) border security initiatives, including biometric data enhancements and a biometric entry-exit system, document integrity, and mandatory detention of aliens apprehended at or between ports of entry; and (4) Central American gangs.
- Provides that the total number of aliens and dependents of such aliens who receive legal permanent resident status shall not exceed 18,000,000 during each 10-year period beginning with the period extending from 2007 through 2016.
- Border Tunnel Prevention Act - Provides criminal penalties for construction, financing, or use of illegal border tunnels or passages.
- Border Law Enforcement Relief Act of 2006 - Authorizes a border relief grant program for a tribal, state, or local law enforcement agency in a county: (1) no more than 100 miles from a U.S. border with Canada or Mexico; or (2) more than 100 miles from any such border but which is a high impact area.
- Sets forth interior enforcement provisions, including provisions respecting: (1) alien terrorists; (2) alien street gang members; (3) illegal entry and reentry; (4) passport and immigration fraud; (5) criminal aliens; (6) voluntary departure; (7) detention and alternatives; (8) criminal penalties; (9) alien smuggling; (10) tribal lands security; (11) state and local enforcement of immigration laws; (12) expedited removal; and (13) alien protection from sex offenders.
- Makes it unlawful to knowingly hire, recruit, or refer for a fee an unauthorized alien.
- Establishes in the Treasury the Employer Compliance Fund.
- Provides for additional worksite and fraud detection personnel.
- Provides for a report examining the impacts of the current and proposed annual grants of legal status, including immigrant and nonimmigrant status, along with the current level of illegal immigration, on U.S. infrastructure and quality of life.
- Establishes a temporary guest worker program (H-2C visa). Provides: (1) that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall determine H-2C eligibility; (2) for a three-year admission with one additional three-year extension; (3) issuance of H-4 nonimmigrant visas for accompanying or following spouse and children; (4) for U.S. worker protection; (5) for implementation of an alien employment management system; and (6) establishment of a Temporary Worker Task Force.
- Expands the S-visa (witness/informant) classification.
- Limits the L-visa (intracompany transfer) classification.
- Fairness in Immigration Litigation Act of 2006 - Sets forth provisions respecting remedies for immigration legislation.
- Sets forth backlog reduction provisions respecting: (1) family-sponsored and employment-based immigrant levels; (2) country limits; (3) immigrant visa allocations; (4) minor children; (5) shortage occupations; and (6) student and advanced degree visas.
- Widows and Orphans Act of 2006 - Establishes a special immigrant category for certain children and women at risk of harm.
- Immigrant Accountability Act of 2006 - Provides permanent resident status adjustment for a qualifying illegal alien (and the spouse and children of such alien) who has been in the United States for five years and employed (with exceptions) for specified periods of time.
- Authorizes mandatory departure and immigrant or nonimmigrant reentry for a qualifying illegal alien who has been present and employed in the United States since January 7, 2004. Establishes a three-year mandatory departure status, and sets forth immigration prohibitions and penalties for failure to depart or delayed departure. Subjects the spouse or children of a principal alien to the same conditions as such alien, except that if such alien meets the departure requirement the spouse and children will be deemed to have done so.
- Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2006, or AgJOBS Act of 2006 - Establishes a pilot program (Blue Card program) for adjustment to permanent resident status of qualifying agricultural workers who have worked in the United States during the two-year period ending December 31, 2005, and have been employed for specified periods of time subsequent to enactment of this Act.
- Revises the H-2A visa (temporary agricultural worker) program.
- Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2006 or the DREAM Act of 2006 - Eliminates denial of an unlawful alien's eligibility for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. national is similarly eligible without regard to such state residence. Authorizes cancellation of removal and adjustment to conditional permanent resident status of certain alien students who are long-term U.S. residents.
- Sets forth provisions respecting: (1) additional Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice immigration personnel; and (2) the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act - Provides that fingerprints provided by a qualifying individual at the time of military enlistment shall satisfy naturalization fingerprint requirements. Requires the Secretary of Defense to establish the position of Citizenship Advocate at each military entry processing station.
- State Court Interpreter Grant Program Act - Provides state courts grants to assist individuals with limited English proficiency to access and understand court proceedings, and allocates funds for a related court interpreter technical assistance program.
- Border Infrastructure and Technology Modernization Act - Provides for: (1) a port of entry infrastructure assessment study; (2) a national land border security plan; and (3) a port of entry technology demonstration program.
- September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act - Provides permanent resident status adjustment or cancellation of removal and permanent resident status adjustment for a qualifying alien who was on September 10, 2001, the wife, child, or dependent son or daughter of a lawful nonimmigrant alien who died as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States.
See also
External links
References
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