Gang of Eight Broken Promises & Special Deals
Gang of 8 Broken Promises
At first glance, the Gang of Eight’s amnesty bill appears to crack down on members of criminal street gangs. In fact, the bill adds aliens who are members of “criminal street gangs” to the list of those who are inadmissible and deportable under current law, and even contains a provision that explicitly excludes convicted gang members from gaining amnesty under the bill. (see Sec. 3701, p. 604-608)
However, upon more careful examination of the gang provisions in the bill, it becomes apparent they are nothing more than a mere attempt to appear tough. Rather, the provisions are so narrow that they will fail to keep out the vast majority of illegal aliens belonging to a gang, even allowing the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the newly-created gang membership grounds for ineligibility.
Specifically, the bill bars gang members from receiving amnesty (“registered provisional immigrant” (RPI) status) under two different sets of circumstances. The first pertains to aliens who are 18 and older who:
- Have been convicted of a gang-related offense under 18 U.S.C. 521(a);
- Have knowledge the gang’s members engaged in a series of offenses under 18 U.S.C. 521(c); and
- Acted with the intention to promote or further the felonious activities of the gang or maintain or increase his or her position in the gang. (p. 607)
Delving deeper, it becomes apparent that the vast majority of illegal alien gang members will not be prohibited from obtaining amnesty under this provision. First, the provision limits gang activity to that which is committed after the alien turned 18, giving illegal aliens a free pass on any gang offenses committed under the age of majority. Next, the provision only excludes alien gang members with convictions, allowing those who have been charged or arrested, but never actually convicted, of gang activity the ability to apply. Third, the definition of offenses under Title 18 only includes felonies, leaving those who have been convicted of any misdemeanor offenses as a gang member (even those who were pled down from a felony) to apply for amnesty. Finally, the provision includes an intent requirement, allowing illegal aliens a loophole to argue they unknowingly or unwillingly participated in the gang activity, and thus should be eligible for amnesty.
As such, the above criteria is so narrow that it will only prevent a fraction of illegal alien gang members from being excluded from receiving RPI status. Unfortunately, the second set of circumstances laid out under the bill for finding illegal alien gang members ineligible for amnesty is no better. The second category is aimed at those who may not have felony convictions related to their gang membership, but for whom the Secretary of DHS is given special knowledge as to their gang activity. Specifically, the second group of aliens includes those whom:
The DHS Secretary determines by clear and convincing evidence, based on law enforcement information, that since the alien turned 18 years of age he or she has knowingly and willingly participated in a gang with the knowledge that such participation promoted or furthered the gang’s illegal activity. (p. 607-608)
As with the first group, there are several reasons as to why this provision also won’t catch the majority of illegal alien gang members. Again, the provision excludes any gang related-offenses or activity committed by the illegal alien before the age of majority, only taking into consideration gang affiliation after the age of eighteen despite the fact the majority of gang members become involved as minors. Next, the DHS Secretary must determine by “clear and convincing” evidence based on law enforcement information that the alien is a gang member. A step below the highest level of proof in the judicial system, requiring clear and convincing evidence raises the burden law enforcement officers must show DHS to protect the public from illegal alien gang members. Finally, the provision includes yet another intent requirement, again allowing illegal aliens a loophole to argue their way into an amnesty.
Perhaps most troubling is that even if the DHS Secretary were to find an illegal alien to be a member of a criminal street gang, the Gang of Eight grants the Secretary the ability to waive the gang member grounds for ineligibility. The waiver provision provides that so long as the alien renounces their gang association and are otherwise not a security threat, the DHS Secretary can waive that ground of ineligibility. (p. 608) Certainly illegal aliens, including members of the most nefarious drug cartels, will be all too happy to claim they’ve renounced their gang membership in order to gain legal entry to the United States to continue to engage in their criminal behavior.
The gang membership waiver of course is just one of hundreds of waivers granted to the DHS Secretary under the Gang of Eight amnesty bill to ensure no illegal alien is left behind, even those who have come to our country to do us nothing but harm.
Originally published in FAIR’s Legislative Update on April 29, 2013.
A close analysis of the Senate Gang of Eight’s Amnesty bill (S.744) shows that its authors have broken their promise to bar criminals from receiving amnesty, called “registered provisional immigrant” status (RPI status).
At first, S.744 appears to prohibit most criminals from receiving amnesty under the bill. The bill provides that an illegal alien is ineligible for RPI status if he/she:
- Has a conviction for a felony;
- Has a conviction for an aggravated felony, as defined under 101(a)(43);
- Has a conviction for 3 or more misdemeanors (other than minor traffic offenses) if the alien was convicted on different dates for each of the offenses (Sec. 2102(b)(3)(B)(i));
- Has a conviction for any offense under foreign law that if committed in the U.S. would render the alien inadmissible or removable under the INA
- Has a conviction for unlawful voting under INA 237(a)(6); and
- Is reasonably believed to be engaged in, or likely to engage in, terrorist activity (Sec. 2102(b)(3)(A)(iii)
(Sec. 2101, INA 245B(b)(3), p.61-66)
However, when one looks at the details, one sees that these bars do not apply a wide range of criminal conduct. First, the language provides that aliens with certain “convictions” are ineligible for RPI status. This means that anyone charged with the offense and released on bond is still eligible. It also means that juvenile aliens who committed egregious offenses will not be barred from eligibility, as they are technically “adjudicated delinquent” not “convicted” of a crime. Finally, barring aliens with convictions for certain crimes ignores the fact that many individuals will “plea down” their offenses in order to turn a felony conviction into a misdemeanor conviction or a misdemeanor conviction into a misdemeanor conviction with a lesser penalty.
Next, the bill contains a glaring loophole: it allows DHS to waive misdemeanor convictions for the purposes of determining eligibility for amnesty. Indeed S.744 allows DHS to waive multiple misdemeanor convictions.(Sec. 2101, p.65) And while most people’s knowledge of misdemeanor offenses relates to traffic violations, misdemeanors span a wide range of activity. In Florida, for example, misdemeanor crimes include:
- Assault, Fla. Stat. § 784.011;
- Assault on law enforcement officers, Fla. Stat. §784.07;
- Battery, Fla. Stat. § 784.03;
- Stalking, Fla. Stat. § 784.048;
- Human smuggling, Fla. Stat. § 787.07;
- Unlawful carrying of a chemical weapon or other deadly weapon (non-firearm), Fla. Stat. § 790.01;
- Unlawful placing or discharging of a bomb that results in any bodily harm, Fla. Stat. 790.1615;
- Unnatural and Lascivious Act, Fla. Stat. §800.02; and
- Exposure of Sexual Organs; Fla. Stat. § 800.03.
Similarly, In Texas, misdemeanor crimes include:
- Public Lewdness, Texas Penal Code § 21.07;
- Indecent Exposure, Texas Penal Code § 21.08;
- Terroristic Threats, Texas Penal Code § 22.07;
- Burglary of Vehicles, Texas Penal Code § 30.04;
- Deadly Conduct, Texas Penal Code § 22.05;
- Assault, Texas Penal Code § 22.01;
- Soliciting Membership in a Criminal Street Gang, Texas Penal Code, § 71.022;
- Soliciting Prostitution, Texas Penal Code § 43.02;
- Unlawful Carrying of Weapons, Texas Penal Code § 46.02; and
- Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Texas Penal Code § 71.02.
In New York, misdemeanor crimes include:
- Assault, New York Penal Law § 120.00;
- Stalking, New York Penal Law § 120.45;
- Forcible touching, New York Penal Law § 130.52;
- Sexual abuse in the second degree, New York Penal Law § 130.60;
- Unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, New York Penal Law § 135.05;
- Endangering the welfare of a child, New York Penal Law § 260.10;
- Insurance fraud in the fifth degree, New York Penal Law § 176.10;
- Health care fraud in the fifth degree, New York Penal Law § 177.05;
- Welfare fraud in the fifth degree, New York Penal Law § 158.05; and
- Criminal possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material in the second degree, New York Penal Law § 220.70
S.744 also authorizes DHS to waive a broad array of criminal behavior for the purpose of determining admissibility, including convictions for:
- Gang-related crimes (INA 212(a)(2)(F))(added to the INA by §3701)
- Three or more drunk driving offenses (INA 212(a)(2)(J))(added to the INA by § 3702)
- Domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and violation of protective orders (INA 212(a)(2)(K))(added to the INA by §3711)
Also for the purpose of determining admissibility, S.744 allows DHS to waive the following conduct, which does not require a conviction in order to make an alien inadmissible:
- Committing crimes or of moral turpitude (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I));
- Violating federal or state drug laws (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II));
- Trafficking in passports (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(III))(added to the INA by §3709);
- Providing fraudulent immigration services (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(III))(added to the INA by §3709);
- Trafficking immigration documents, including document fraud (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(III))(added to the INA by §3709);
- Prostitution (INA 212(a)(2)(D)(i));
- Gang membership (INA 212(a)(2)(F))(added to the INA by §3701);
- Misrepresenting a material fact to procure visas or other immigration benefits (if done for any purpose other than submitting an amnesty application) (INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i));
- Violating student visas (INA 212(a)(6)(G));
- Falsely claiming citizenship (INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii)); and
- Illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation (a felony)(INA 212(a)(9)(C).
When the Senate Gang of Eight unveiled S.744 at a press conference April 18th, they made repeated promises that illegal aliens applying for amnesty would have to undergo a criminal background check. While that may be true, a background check is only meaningful if aliens who committed serious crimes are actually barred from receiving amnesty and being placed on that pathway to citizenship. The specific text of the S.744, combined with its numerous waiver provisions, demonstrate that criminal illegal aliens will indeed be eligible for amnesty under the Gang of Eight plan.
Originally published in FAIR’s Legislative Update on April 29, 2013.
Just days after its introduction last week, the Senate Gang of Eight’s amnesty bill (S.744) is already raising national security concerns. The bill, entitled the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, would legalize approximately 12 million illegal aliens through a process that at every turn protects illegal aliens, some of whom may pose a security risk. Moreover, S.744 adds provisions to federal law that impede the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ability to detain aliens and remove aliens regardless of the reason.
First, S.744 protects illegal aliens before they even apply for amnesty, which the bill calls “registered provisional immigrant” (RPI) status. Under Section 2101, if an alien is apprehended — for any reason and apparently by any law enforcement agency — between the time of enactment and the end of the application period and the alien “appears prima facie eligible” for RPI status, DHS mustgive the alien an opportunity to file an RPI application and may not remove the alien until DHS makes a final administrative determination on the application. (Sec. 2101, p.70-71) If DHS denies an alien’s application for RPI status, the alien may challenge the denial administratively, and may even sue DHS in federal court to overturn the Department’s determination. (Sec. 2104(c), p.121-126)
Once an illegal alien obtains RPI status, S.744 impedes DHS’s ability to detain or remove aliens who may pose a security risk. Under Section 2101, ICE agents may not detain or remove an alien with RPI status — for any reason — until DHS affirmatively determines the alien is ineligible for RPI status or revokes his/her RPI status. (Sec. 2101, p.73) However, DHS cannot revoke an alien’s RPI status without giving the newly legalized alien an opportunity to challenge that decision. Under Section 2101, DHS may revoke an alien’s RPI status only after providing “appropriate notice” to the alien and after the alien exhausts or waives all applicable administrative review procedures. Even then, DHS may only revoke RPI status if the alien: (1) is no longer eligible; (2) knowingly used RPI documents for fraud, or (3) was absent from the U.S. for periods lasting longer than 180 days. (Sec. 2101, p.73)
S.744 even goes so far as to prevent DHS from removing illegal aliens already in deportation proceedings or subject to a deportation order so that the aliens may apply for amnesty. Under Section 2101, if an alien subject to a removal order is still in the U.S. and is eligible for RPI status, the alien is still able to apply for the amnesty. (Sec. 2101, p.76) In addition, Section 2101 provides that if DHS determines that an alien in removal proceedings is “prima facie eligible” for RPI status, DHS must give the alien an opportunity to apply for amnesty and direct the Justice Department to suspend any removal proceedings. (Sec. 2101, p.73-75)
If, under these circumstances, DHS actually detains an alien, S.744 helps the illegal aliens challenge their detention and removal. First, Section 3503 creates a new bureaucracy, the Office of Legal Access Programs, and directs it to help detained aliens make “informed and timely decisions regarding removal and their eligibility for relief from removal….” In fact, under the language of the bill, DHS must ensure these “legal orientation programs” are available to the aliens within 5 days of arrival in custody. Section 3503 also authorizes the Office of Legal Access Programs to provide services, including legal services, to aliens in deportation hearings. (p.570-571)
In addition, Section 3715 creates a “secure alternatives program” in each ICE field office to create essentially what is a substitute for detention. (Sec. 3715, p.646) Through this program, DHS must contract with nonprofits in the community “to conduct screening of detainees, provide appearance assistance services, and operate community-based supervision services.” If an alien is not eligible for release from detention, DHS shall consider the alien for placement in secure alternative programs that maintain custody over the alien to serve as detention, by such methods as electronic ankle bracelets. (Sec. 3715, p.646-647)
Finally, S.744 places a heavy burden on DHS in order to secure detention of an alien. Sec. 3717 provides that for any alien taken into custody for any reason, DHS must file a notice to appear within 72 hours and serve notice on the alien. DHS must also within 72 hours serve the alien with a custody decision specifying the reasons for continued custody. Then DOJ must ensure that the alien has an opportunity to appear before a judge to review the custody decision. Unless the judge determines at that hearing that the alien is deportable, the judge may detain the alien only if DHS demonstrates that no conditions, including use of alternatives to detention that maintain custody over the alien, will reasonably ensure the appearance of the alien in court and the public safety. (Sec. 3717, p.652-653)
Together, these provisions not only impede DHS’s ability to enforce our immigration laws against any alien applying for amnesty, they essentially ensure that DHS will only be able to detain aliens under the most egregious conditions. Not only does this pose a significant national security risk, it creates significant, statutory obstacles to the enforcement of U.S. immigration law. The result will no doubt be the creation of a new illegal alien population that will, over time, drive open borders advocates to demand that Congress adopt another amnesty program in the years to come.
Originally published in FAIR’s Legislative Update on April 22, 2013.
A close analysis of the Gang of Eight’s amnesty bill (S.744) shows that despite promises by Senators in the Gang of Eight, illegal aliens will in fact not be required to learn English at any time during the amnesty process.
First, illegal aliens are not required to learn English when they apply for amnesty, called “registered provisional immigrant” status (RPI status). The eligibility requirements are relatively straightforward. To be eligible for RPI status, an alien must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the alien:
- Is physically present in the U.S. on the date of application;
- Has been physically present in the U.S. on or before 12/31/11, except for “brief, casual, and innocent” absences; and
- Has maintained continuous physical presence (except absences up to 180 days) in the U.S. from Dec. 31, 2011 until receiving RPI status. (Sec. 2101, INA245B(b), p.60-68)
Nowhere in S.744 is there a requirement that illegal aliens learn English in order to get amnesty.
Moreover, S.744 does not require that illegal aliens learn English to renew their RPI status (which lasts for six years and is renewable indefinitely). To renew RPI status, an alien must simply establish that he/she:
- Remains eligible for RPI status;
- Has not had his/her RPI status revoked;
- Meets employment or education requirements, which are waivable;
- Has satisfied any federal tax liability that has been “assessed” (meaning the IRS has officially recorded that the alien owes it taxes);
- Pays a processing fee, which is waivable. (p.83); and
- Pays a $1,000 penalty.
(Sec. 2101, INA 245B(c)(9), p.79-84)
In fact, the only English requirement the Gang of Eight bill imposes on any illegal alien going through the amnesty process comes when the alien applies for a green card — if he chooses to do so. However, an alien may satisfy the English requirement necessary for obtaining a green card by establishing merely that :
- The alien meets the English and civics requirements for naturalization under INA § 312, OR
- The alien Is satisfactorily pursuing a course of study “to achieve an understanding of English and knowledge and understanding” of civics (p. 103)
- Thus, even at the point of getting a green card –10 years into the future – an illegal alien who received amnesty must only show that he is studying English and civics.
Originally published in the FAIR Legislative Update from April 29, 2013.
The Senate Gang of Eight amnesty bill (S.744) authorizes illegal aliens to file lawsuits – including class action lawsuits – against the United States in order to force the government to give them amnesty. (Sec. 2104, INA 245E(c), p. 120-129) The authorization of class action lawsuits is only one of many provisions in the bill that gives illegal aliens the right to legally challenge any denial of amnesty, called “registered provisional immigrant” status (RPI status) or green cards offered under the bill.
First, S.744 allows illegal aliens to administratively challenge any decision that denies or revokes their RPI status. (Sec. 2104(a), p.120-123) The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide illegal aliens with the ability to administratively appeal the denial or revocation of RPI status, regardless of whether the grounds for denial involved national security, a criminal background, or any other disqualifying information. The alien must file his appeal within 90 days after the denial or revocation, unless “the delay is reasonably justifiable.” During review, an administrative court may consider any “new evidence” discovered from the date of application.
Remarkably, the bill even encourages illegal aliens to challenge a denial or revocation, by prohibiting the DHS from removing an illegal alien – for any reason – during administrative review until a “final decision” establishing ineligibility has been made. (Id. at 122) The bill also protects the illegal alien by providing that his/her presence in the U.S. during the appeals process may not count towards the period of unlawful presence that triggers the 3 and 10-year bars for admission. (Id. at 123)
Not only does the Gang of Eight bill allow illegal aliens to administratively review a denial or revocation of RPI status, it authorizes illegal aliens to avail themselves of the U.S. court system to demand it. (Sec.2104(b), p.124-127) If an illegal alien is unable to convince an immigration judge to administratively overturn a denial or revocation of RPI status, S.744 authorizes illegal aliens to appeal the adverse decision in federal court. The only limitation on such appeals is that an illegal alien must first exhaust all administrative remedies before filing in federal court. (Id.)
As with administrative review, the Gang of Eight bill protects illegal aliens through the judicial review process. S.744 provides that while a federal court reviews an illegal alien’s case:
- The alien’s unlawful presence shall not count towards the 3 and 10-year bars;
- The alien’s presence shall not count towards the time allotted for voluntary departure; and
- The court shall have discretion to stay the execution of any removal order. (Id. at 125)
An illegal alien’s opportunity to challenge an adverse decision does not end there, however. If a federal district court rejects an illegal alien’s appeal and DHS subsequently orders the alien deported, an alien may appeal the district court’s decision, in conjunction review of his removal order, in a federal circuit court of appeals. (Id. at 125) At any point along the way, a court may remand the case to DHS for consideration of additional evidence if the court finds that:
- The additional evidence is material, and
- There were reasonable grounds for failure to adduce the additional evidence before the Secretary. (Id. at 126)
Not only may illegal aliens sue the government in order to reverse a specific decision in their own cases, S.744 authorizes illegal aliens to sue the U.S. government in federal court, either individually or in a class action lawsuit to challenge any provision of S.744, the relevant regulations, any DHS policy issued pursuant thereto, or any pattern or practice of DHS that emerges in the process. (Id. at 126-128) In such lawsuits, S.744 authorizes the federal courts to order any appropriate relief without regard to exhaustion of administrative remedies. (Id. at 126) In addition, S.744 authorizes courts to put judicial proceedings on hold to permit DHS to evaluate an allegation of an unwritten policy or practice or to take corrective action. (Id. at 129).
The provisions in S.744 that give illegal aliens endless opportunities to sue the government for amnesty will undoubtedly lead to years of litigation in the taxpayer-funded U.S. court system, clogging up court dockets for years to come. This was also the outcome of the 1986 amnesty, when tens of thousands of illegal aliens sued the government in class action lawsuits, demanding legal status under that law. Some of these lawsuits lasted decades and forced the government to give illegal aliens amnesty more than twenty years after passage of the legislation. (See, e.g., Los Angeles Times, Dec. 15, 2008)
Originally published in FAIR’s Legislative Update on April 29, 2013.
A close analysis of the Gang of Eight’s amnesty bill (S.744) shows that illegal aliens will in fact not be required to pay back taxes in order to receive legal status, which the bill calls “registered provisional immigrant” (RPI) status.
This conclusion turns on one word used in the text of the bill: “assessed.” Under S.744, an alien may not even file an application for RPI status “unless the applicant has satisfied any applicable Federal tax liability.” (Sec. 2101, p.68-69) “Applicable federal tax liability” is defined as “all Federal income taxes assessed.” (Id.)
While this sounds good at first blush, one must look closer at the exact words used. First, “taxes assessed” does not mean “taxes owed.” A tax is “assessed” when the IRS officially records that a person owes a tax. (See, e.g., Warren, Gorham & Lamont Treatise on Tax Controversies, § 3.01; Warren, Gorham & Lamont Treatise on Tax Procedures, § 10.01) A tax assessment can happen in two ways. One, an individual files a tax return, tells the IRS what he owes, and, after correcting any mathematical errors, the IRS records it. (See 26 U.S.C. §6201) Two, the IRS audits an individual — whether or not he has filed a return — and, after giving the taxpayer an opportunity to contest, records how much the person owes. (See 26 U.S.C. §6212)
This leads to two possible scenarios in which the “back taxes” of an illegal alien will have been “assessed.” In the first scenario, the illegal alien has filed a tax return and the IRS has ”assessed” any unpaid portion of the reported tax. This will be a rare scenario since an illegal alien is unlikely to file a return reporting taxes that he is unable or unwilling to pay, for fear of causing trouble with the federal government. In the second scenario, the illegal alien is working off the books, has not filed a return, and has been audited by the IRS. This will also be a very rare scenario since the IRS has no knowledge of the alien’s existence. In short, despite the promises of the authors, the Gang of Eight has drafted a tax provision that will almost never require illegal aliens to pay “back taxes” as a condition of receiving amnesty.
Other language in the bill supports this conclusion. For example, there is no requirement that the alien present himself to the IRS for a tax assessment before or during the application process. Nor is there any requirement that an alien submit specific information (employment history, wages, etc.) that would indicate that taxes are owed. And even if S.744 required illegal aliens to submit such information to DHS when they apply for amnesty, there is no requirement that DHS share it with the IRS in order to allow an assessment.
Not only does the Gang of Eight bill utterly fail to make illegal aliens pay federal back taxes as a condition of getting amnesty, there is no requirement that illegal aliens pay state or local back taxes either. Finally, the Gang of Eight gives employers their own amnesty by failing to require that they too pay back taxes for any illegal aliens they employed over the years. In fact, the Gang of Eight amnesty bill provides that any documents provided by an employer to enable an illegal alien to apply for amnesty may not be used against him in a civil or criminal prosecution for hiring that illegal alien. (Sec. 2104, p.120).
Originally published in FAIR’s Legislative Update on April 29, 2013.
Under the Gang of Eight’s amnesty legislation, taxpayers could be on the hook for illegal aliens’ attorneys’ fees when they fight removal from the United States. (See S. 744 § 3502, p. 567)
Specifically, the legislation strikes a provision under current law stating that aliens’ right to counsel in removal proceedings will not be at the expense of the Government. The legislation then grants the Attorney General unfettered discretion to appoint counsel as he sees fit. In fact, the legislation grants the Attorney General the “sole and unreviewable discretion to appoint or provide counsel” to aliens in removal proceedings, denying any judicial recourse if the Attorney General abuses such power. (Id. at p. 568)(emphasis added)
And, in instances where certain alien minors are placed in removal proceedings, the legislation actually requires the Attorney General to appoint taxpayer-funded counsel. “[T]he Attorney Generalshall appoint counsel, at the expense of the Government, if necessary, to represent an alien in a removal proceeding who has been determined by the Secretary to be an unaccompanied alien child….” the bill reads. (Id. at p. 569)(emphasis added)
While the provision limits the requirement to appoint counsel to alien minors who are incompetent or “considered particularly vulnerable when compared to other aliens in removal proceedings,” no doubt all unaccompanied minors will receive free counsel given their minor status makes them inherently vulnerable when compared to the remainder of the illegal alien population. (Id.)
Moreover, the number of unaccompanied illegal alien minors crossing the border has grown since the Obama Administration instituted its DACA backdoor amnesty policy. The total number of illegal alien unaccompanied minors apprehended crossing the border in FY 2011 was 16,607, and before FY 2012 was even over, U.S. Customs and Border Protection already recorded 15,590 unaccompanied minor border crossings. (FAIR Legislative Update, Jul. 9, 2012)
Originally published in FAIR’s Legislative Update on April 29, 2013.
Special Deals for Special Interests
Hatch-Schumer Deal
- Hatch Biometric Exit Amendment Falls Short of Current Law
- Hatch-Schumer Deal Sells Out American Workers, Infuriates Unions
- Tech Union Voices Outrage over Hatch-Schumer Deal
Labor & Big Business
Lobbying for Amnesty
- Data Shows Border Security Metric in S.744 Subject to Political Manipulation
- Tech Companies’ Heavy Spending Rewarded by Gang of Eight
- Open Borders Groups Have Spent $1.5 Billion Lobbying Congress Since 2007
- Senate Bill Contains Slush Fund for Pro-Amnesty Groups
Rejected Amendments from the Markup
During the Senate Judiciary Committee’s markup of S.744, what true immigration reform measures were rejected?
- Senate Judiciary Committee Rejects Effort to Stop Gang Members from Being Amnestied
- Rejected Amendments that Could Have Improved the Bill
- Top Ten Worst Amendments to the Gang of Eight Amnesty Bill