Saturday, May 26, 2007

Senate Finishes Round One on Immigration Debate

News from the National Immigration Forum

The Senate has concluded its debate on the immigration bill until it returns from the Memorial week recess on Monday June 4.

Regarding the votes that were the subject of the action alert sent earlier this week, the Coleman amendment on state and local enforcement was defeated 48 to 49. A vote on the Cornyn amendment was postponed until after the recess.

Here is a summary of the votes that have occurred so far.

Votes on May 22

Votes on May 23

A Bingaman (D-NM) amendment, to reduce the cap on Y temporary workers to 200,000, was agreed to by a vote of 74 to 24.

A Feinstein (D-CA) -Martinez (D-NJ) amendment, to provide for the protection of unaccompanied minors, was agreed to by voice vote.

A Gregg (R-NH) amendment, to provide even more resources for border enforcement, was agreed to by voice vote.

A Graham (R-SC) amendment, to provide for minimum sentences for those who re-enter the United States after removal, was agreed to by unanimous consent.

A Leahy (D-VT) amendment, having to do with rules applicable to immigrants employed as dairy workers, was agreed to by unanimous consent.

A Hutchison (R-TX) amendment, providing local officials and the Secretary of Homeland Security greater involvement in decisions regarding the location of border fencing, was agreed to by unanimous consent.

Votes on May 24

An Akaka (D-HI) amendment to exempt children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas was agreed to by a vote of 87 to 9.

A Coleman (R-MN) amendment, to bar localities from having policies that bar officials from asking about immigration status in the course of law enforcement or dispensing other services, was defeated by a vote of 48 to 49.

A Dorgan (D-NC) amendment, to sunset the temporary worker program after five years, was rejected by a vote of 48 to 49.

A Sanders (D-VT) amendment, to establish the American Competitiveness Scholarship Program, passed by a vote of 59 to 35.

A Vitter (R-LA) amendment, to strike the legalization program, was defeated by a vote of 29 to 66.

New on the Forum Web site

Our comprehensive reform legislation page has been updated to reflect this week's activity.

http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=879

There are links to resources, including a Q & A on the Senate bill, "Questions and Answers about the Senate Immigration Bill"

http://www.immigrationforum.org/documents/PolicyWire/Legislation/110/SenateBillQ&A.pdf

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