(DHS.gov)

El Comité Judicial del Senado ayer por la tarde terminó las enmiendas para el proyecto de ley de reforma migratoria. El Comité ha enviado el proyecto de ley al Senado completo para una votación.

Después de cinco sesiones, el Comité Judicial del Senado aprobó el proyecto de ley de inmigración con una votación 13-5. Se espera que la votación del Senado tomara a cabo el próximo mes.

En un comunicado, Obama dijo que apoya el proyecto de ley, diciendo que es “en gran medida consistente con los principios de la reforma de sentido común que he propuesto y cumple el reto de arreglar nuestro sistema roto de inmigración.”

El proyecto de ley de reforma migratoria aborda la seguridad fronteriza, un camino a la ciudadanía, los trabajadores altamente cualificados, los trabajadores poco cualificados, la inmigración familiar y la verificación de empleo. Estas son las propuestas generales del proyecto de ley de casi 1,000 páginas:

Seguridad Fronteriza

• Los objetivos de seguridad fronteriza incluyen detener 90 por ciento de los que desean cruzar ilegalmente, el mantenimiento de vigilancia de toda la frontera de los EE.UU y México, el desarrollo de un plan de aviones no tripulados y de contratar más agentes, y la construcción de un muro.
• Estos objetivos deben tener 90 por ciento de efectividad en cinco años después de la promulgación de la ley. Una Comisión de Seguridad de la Frontera Sur tendrá que reunirse y revisar la estrategia si los objetivos no se cumplen dentro de los cinco años.
• Un camino a la ciudadanía no puede ser creado hasta que se cumplan los objetivos de seguridad fronteriza.

Camino a la Ciudadanía

• A 11 millones de inmigrantes indocumentados se les concederá un estatus legal llamado inmigrantes provisionales registrados, RPI. Después de 10 años de estatus RPI, la gente elegible podrá solicitar una tarjeta verde.
• Los de estado RPI que llegaron a los EE.UU. de niños son elegibles para una tarjeta verde después de solo cinco años.
• Las personas deportadas por crimines no criminales podrán volver a entrar al país con estado de RPI si tienen un familiar que es ciudadano o residente permanente o si llegaron a los EE.UU. cuando eran niños.

Trabajadores Altamente Cualificados

• El límite de visas H-1B se elevará de 65,000 a 110,000 al año.
• 25,000 visas H-1B se reservaran sólo para las personas con grados avanzados en STEM.
• Una visa Startup se creara.
• Una visa basada en mérito se creara con un límite de 250,000 por año.
• La Lotería de Diversidad será eliminada para hacer disponible más visas basadas en empleo y basadas en mérito.

Trabajadores Poco Cualificados

• Se creará una visa W con un límite de 200,000 por año cap.
• Se establecerá un nuevo programa de visas para trabajadores agricultores.

Inmigración Basada en Familia

• Los ciudadanos estadounidenses ya no serán capaces de patrocinar a sus hermanos, pero si serán capaces de patrocinar a sus hijos e hijas menores de 31 que ya están casados.
• Dejará de haber un límite de Tarjetas Verdes para familiares inmediatos a través de un familiar que es residente permanente.

Verificación de Empleo

• Todos los empleadores estarán obligados a utilizar E-Verify.

(DHS.gov)

The Senate Judiciary Committee finished amending the Gang of 8’s immigration reform bill yesterday evening. The Committee has now sent it to the full Senate for a vote.

After five hearings, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the immigration bill with a 13-5 vote. The Senate vote is expected to take place next month.

In a statement, Obama said he supports the bill, saying it is “largely consistent with the principles of common-sense reform I have proposed and meets the challenge of fixing our broken immigration system.”

The immigration reform bill addresses border security, a path to citizenship, high-skilled workers, low-skilled workers, family immigration and employment verification. These are the general proposals of the nearly 1000-page bill:

Border Security

• The Border Security goals include stopping 90 percent of would-be crossers; maintaining surveillance of the entire U.S.-Mexican border; developing a plan for drones and more agents; and building a fence.
• These goals must become 90 percent effective within five years after the enactment of the bill. A Southern Border Security Commission will have to meet and revise their strategy if those goals are not met within the five years.
• A path to citizenship cannot be created until border security goals are met.

Path to Citizenship

• 11 million undocumented immigrants will be granted a legal status called Registered Provisional Immigrant Status. After 10 years of provisional status, eligible RPIs will be able to apply for a Green Card.
• RPIs who came to the U.S. as children will be eligible for a Green Card after five years.
• People deported for noncriminal criminals will be able re-enter under RPI status if they have a citizen or permanent resident family member or if they came to the U.S. as children.

High-skilled Workers

• The H-1B visa cap will be raised from 65,000 to 110,000 a year.
• 25,000 H-1B visas will be reserved just for people with advanced degrees in STEM.
• A Startup visa will be created.
• A merit visa with a 250,000 per year cap will be created.
• The Green Card Lottery will be eliminated to make more employment- and merit-based visas available.

Low-skilled Workers

• A W visa with a cap of 200,000 per year cap will be created.
• An Agriculture Worker Visa program will be established.

Family Immigration

• U.S. citizens will no longer be able to sponsor their siblings but will be able to sponsor their married sons and daughters under the age of 31.
• There will no longer be a limit on immediate relative Green Cards through a permanent resident family member.

Employment Verification

• All employers will be required to use E-verify.

The following is a summary of the amendments thus far added to the Gang of Eight Immigration Bill. If the bill becomes law, the following changes would be made:

• Feinstein (D-CA) The Southwest border state judicial districts would have judicial relief and new district judgeships in Texas, California and Arizona would be created.
• Leahy (D-VT) The Department of Homeland Security would be authorized for $1.5 billion for fencing.
• Feinstein (D-CA) Infrastructure at southern and northern border ports of entry would be expanded and there would a requirement for consultation between local and federal government.
• Feinstein (D-CA) State Criminal Alien Assistance Program would be extended until 2015.
• Hirono (D-HI) Customs and Border Patrol officers would be allowed to exercise discretion when considering keeping families together.
• Blumenthal (D-CT) There would be an exception to the funding provided to state, local and tribal jurisdictions when a person is arrested due to immigration-related crime but authorities have engaged in unlawful conduct.
• Feinstein (D-CA) Reimbursement for immigration related prosecution would be expanded.
• Grassley (R-IA) Audits for waste, fraud and abuse would take place each year to check on the recipients of grants under the Act and would not let nonprofit organizations keep money in offshore accounts.
• Grassley (R-IA) Border Security Plan goals would be applied to all sectors of the Southwest border, not just the high-risk sectors.
• Schumer (D-NY) The way Congress funds the immigration reform overhaul would have minor changes.
• Hirono (D-CA) An ombudsman for the Department of Homeland Security would be established.
• Feinstein (D-CA) Customs and Border Protection would be required to organize and deploy warcraft for maritime to support border security efforts
• Feinstein (D-CA) A competitive grant process for Operation Stonegarden would be created.
• Feinstein (D-CA) The Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to establish guidelines for how children are held at Customs and Border Protection Stations.
• Flake (R-AZ) The status report deadlines on Southern Border Security Strategies would be changed.
• Flake (R-AZ) The number of members that sit on the Department of Homeland Security’s  Oversight Task Force would be increased.
• Cornyn (R-TX) Severe forms of trafficking in persons would be added to the violent crimes reports of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
• Sessions (R-AL) The functions of the USCIS ombudsman would be expanded.
• Grassley (R-IA) The Department of Homeland Security’s chief financial officer would be required to submit annual audited financial statements on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trust Fund.
• Grassley (R-IA) Senate and House judiciary committees would receive regular reports on border security.
• Leahy (D-VT) Border crossing fees at northern and southern borders and any studies about such fees would be prohibited.
• Grassley (R-IA) SEVIS system information would be immediately made available to Custom and Border Protection officers at Ports of Entry
• Hirono (D-HI) U.S.-flagged fishing vessels home-ported in Hawaii would qualify for crewmen visa rotations
• Klobuchar (D-MN) Abused spouses and children of temporary visa holders and blue card holders would be able to self-petition through VAWA.
• Schumer (D-NY) Foreign nationals who know certain foreign languages and are from countries that send less than 5,000 nationals per year could qualify for J-1 visas.
• Grassley (R-IA) The Department of Homeland Security would decide on whether or not a school is to be barred from a student visa program.
• Hirono (D-HI) Medicaid would be  available for Compact of Free Association Migrants
• Sessions (R-AL) Consulate offices would have access to all terrorism records and databases, individuals would not be admitted unless  State and Department of Homeland Security determine individual does not pose a threat, and terror databases would be updated when a visa is taken away.
• Klobuchar (D-MN) A pilot program would be established for a system that uses videoconferencing for nonimmigrant visa interviews.
• Schumer (D-NY) Countries covered under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act would be eligible for E-nonimmigrant visas.
• Hatch (R-UT) Labor Certification Fee would be increased and the extra revenue would be used for a new STEM Fund.
• Grassley (R-IA) Internet job posting section would include more information, such as location and title.
• White House (White House) The Department of Labor would create a free hotline for employees to report violation of H-1B visa requirements.
• Schumer (D-NY) Clarification would be made to the following: Brand USA Travel promotion funding, backlog reductions, the J-1 visa fee, the W-visa program research methods, the authorization of the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the wage paid to W-nonimmigrants.
• Coons (D-DE) Dangerous deportation practices would be limited.
• Feinstein (D-CA) Flight paths of unmanned aerial drones would be limited.
• Grassley (R-IA) A parent or legal guardian would be required to confirm the identification of a person underage seeking employment
• Blumenthal (D-CT) Workers protected under workplace laws would have the right to a pay stub to have proof of employment.
• Franken (D-MN) An office that would serve as a Small Business and Employee Advocate would be created.
• Grassley (R-IA) Parents would be able to lock their child’s Social Security number to prevent identity theft.
• Grassley (R-IA) USCIS would be required to provide weekly reports on those who do not pass E-verify check
• White House (White House) Investments from start-up accelerators would be used to determine if the INVEST visa investment thresholds are satisfied.
• Schumer (D-NY) A secondary registry of employers who are interested in hiring W visa employees already in the U.S. would be created and employers would be able exceed the cap on W-visa employees if employees leave to work for employers in second registry.
• Leahy (D-VT) EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program would become permanent.
• Hirono (D-HI) Hong Kong would be eligible for participation in visa waiver program.

More on Immigration Reform:

• Immigration Reform 2013
• Gang of 8
• Earned Citizenship
• Streamlining Immigration
• Strengthening Border Security
• More Accountability for Employers Hiring Undocumented Immigrants

Question:

What are Dual Intent visas?

Answer:

They are nonimmigrant visas that allow people to apply for permanent residency.

Nonimmigrant visas are specifically for foreign nationals who wish to remain in the U.S. for a only temporary period of time. However, there are some nonimmigrant visas that allow for Dual Intent, which means that someone can be admitted for a temporary period but he or she can also apply for a Green Card during that time. Green Cards are also known as immigrant visas.

The H-1B visa is an example of a dual intent visa.

Look for a new Immigration Fact of the Week every Friday!

Por ahora Arizona continuará negando licencias de conducir a beneficiarios de la Acción Diferida, pero la demanda en contra de la política de la gobernadora Jan Brewer sigue en pie.

Ayer, el Juez Federal de Distrito David Campbell negó una medida cautelar para la orden ejecutiva de la gobernadora Brewer que evita que los beneficiaros de la Acción Diferida obtengan licencias de conducir.

En una declaración, la gobernadora Brewer dijo lo siguiente:

“Esta parte de la decisión no es sólo una victoria para el estado de Arizona — es una victoria para los derechos de los estados, el Derecho de la Ley y los principios fundamentales que guían el proceso legislativo de nuestra nación y la división de poderes entre el gobierno federal y los estados.”

A pesar de que la decisión del Juez Campbell deja que se siguán negando licencias de conducir, la demanda contra la política de Brewer no ha sido expulsada.

Hablando con activista Carmen Cornejo, de la Coalición de Arizona Dream Act, ADAC, ella dijo que los soñadores de Arizona siguen esperanzados. ADAC, junto con cinco beneficiarios de la Acción Diferida, presentaron la medida cautelar que el Juez Campbell rechazó.

“Va a ser un proceso largo, pero estamos esperanzados. El Juez Campbell fue positivo. Él dijo que la demanda probablemente será exitosa,” Cornejo dijo.

La ley de Arizona emite licencias de conducir a algunos inmigrantes indocumentados con permisos de trabajo, ¿por qué no otorgan licencias de conducir a los jóvenes inmigrantes indocumentados con Acción Diferida? La demanda, en base de este hecho, es muy fuerte porque la política de Brewer parece ser discriminatoria hacia los inmigrantes jóvenes.

Bajo la Acción Diferida, un programa que entró en vigor en agosto del 2012, los beneficiarios reciben autorización para permanecer en los EE.UU. por un período de dos años, durante los cuales deberían de tener acceso a un permiso de trabajo y una licencia de conducir.

El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional ha confirmado este año que los beneficiarios de la Acción Diferida están legalmente presentes en los EE.UU. a pesar de que no tienen estatus legal.

El último informe del USCIS confirmo que 291,859 solicitudes de Acción Diferida han sido aprobadas desde el inicio del programa. USCIS ha recibido 515,922 solicitudes. La mayoría han sido aceptadas pero aún están bajo revisión.

Arizona will continue to deny driver’s licenses to Deferred Action recipients for now, but the lawsuit against Governor Jan Brewer’s policy still stands.

Yesterday, U.S. District Judge David Campbell denied a request for a preliminary injunction on Brewer’s executive order that prevents Deferred Action recipients from getting driver’s licenses.

In a statement, Gov. Brewer said the following:

“This portion of the ruling is not only a victory for the state of Arizona — it is a victory for states’ rights, the rule of law and the bedrock principles that guide our nation’s legislative process and the division of power between the federal government and states.”

Despite Judge Campbell’s ruling that the driver’s license ban can currently stay in effect, the lawsuit has not been thrown out.

When speaking to Advocate Carmen Cornejo, of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, ADAC, she said that Arizona DREAMers are still hopeful. ADAC, along with five Deferred Action beneficiaries, filed the preliminary injunction Judge Campbell dismissed.

“It’s going to be a longer process but we’re hopeful. Judge Campbell was positive. He said the lawsuit is most likely going to be successful,” Cornejo said.

Arizona law issues driver’s licenses to some undocumented immigrants with work permits, so why not issue driver’s licenses to young undocumented immigrants granted Deferred Action? The lawsuit, based on that fact, is very strong because Brewer’s policy seems discriminatory toward young immigrants.

Under Deferred Action, a program that went into effect in August of 2012, recipients receive authorization to remain in the U.S. for a period of two years, during which they should be able get a work permit and a driver’s license.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed this year that Deferred Action recipients are lawfully present in the U.S. even though they do not have lawful status.

The latest USCIS report states 291,859 Deferred Action applications have been approved since the start of the program. USCIS has received 515,922 applications. Most have been accepted but are still under review.

“You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered.”

- Lyndon B. Johnson, 36^th President of the United States

Immigration Reform Bill S. 744 is currently making its way through Congress.  Authored by the “Gang of 8”, a bipartisan group of senators, it has become a topic of intense debate.

Senators Schumer and McCain have already met with President Obama at the White House to discuss their legislation and, according to Senator Schumer, the President has indicated that he is enthusiastic about the bill.  The President further said that he doesn’t “Want to drag this out because that’s the way bills get killed,” hence why the senators are hoping to pass the legislation by June.

Senator McCain has also said that there is a broad coalition of supporters of the bill, which include organized labor, the business community, Hispanic leaders, religious organizations and as well as others. McCain added that “The attitude of the American people has changed since 2007… Most Americans support this proposal far more than did in 2007. Frankly, elections have had an impact as well.”

President Obama has previously said that he does not support every part of the bill and one oth the key elements that he disagrees with has to do with the inclusion of a “trigger” for creating a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented immigrants in the country. The way that the bill is currently written, that pathway won’t open up until the government demonstrates progress on the other three central portions of the immigration reform bill, which are, border security, employer verification (i.e. eVerify), and the “entry-exit” system to track visa holders.

The conservative Senators support the trigger. Senator Shumer has said that without such a measure, it would be very difficult to pass the rest of the bill.

“This bill is clearly a compromise, and no one will get everything they wanted, including me.” Obama said, “[but the bill] is largely consistent with the principles that I have repeatedly laid out for comprehensive reform.”

The bill, of course, still faces major challenges. One immigration reform opponent, Representative Steve King, said Congress should reconsider its efforts in light of the Boston Marathon bombings since it was the work of a foreign national.

King faces opposition even in his own party. Fellow Republican, John McCain, said that he would continue to argue for comprehensive immigration reform and that that would help keep the US safe.

While the Gang of 8 senators expressed optimism about the bill, they also acknowledged the fact that there will be opponents in Congress who will try to add “poison pill” amendments. One example is an amendment that would effectively eliminate any pathway to citizenship for those affected by the reform.

While other amendments are sure to follow, with the sole purpose of killing the bill, I am encouraged by what Senator McCain has said: “We are committed to good changes to the bill, but we are also committed to voting against changes that could kill the bill.”

If this is the summer that we will get Immigration Reform, it still isn’t a certainty.  We strongly encourage you to contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them to vote “Yes” for what is the right thing to do.

(USCIS.gov)

El Comité Judicial del Senado continúa la votación sobre las enmiendas al proyecto de ley de la reforma migratoria.

Las enmiendas discutidas esta mañana se trataron de temas relacionados con empleo.

• La enmienda del senador Patrick Leahy (D-VT) hace que el programa EB-5 sea permanente y que haya una mejora en la eficacia del programa para los inversionistas y los operadores del centro regional extranjeros.
• La enmienda del senador Al Franken (D-MN) requiere que el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional cada año presente un informe sobre la tasa de error del sistema E-Verify, junto con recomendaciones sobre cómo mejorar la tasa de error. Otra enmienda de Franken adoptada fue una que crea una oficina para que empresas y los empleados pueden acudir en busca de información y asistencia.
• La enmienda del senador Chris Coons (D-DE) requiere que se elabore un protocolo para que las personas sepan cuando sus datos están siendo revisados a través de E-Verify.
• La enmienda del senador Chuck Grassley (R-IA) requiere que el USCIS envié un informe semanal al ICE con la información sobre personas que no fueron confirmados por el sistema E-Verify. Otra enmienda de Grassley adoptada requiere que el padre o guardián legal de una persona menor de 21 años que buscan empleo proporcione una confirmación de la identidad del niño.
• La enmienda del senador Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) prohíbe la retención de los registros de empleo de personas para propósitos de inmigración.

El Comité tiene la intención de seguir votando la próxima semana y posiblemente también el fin de semana para que puedan terminar antes de su próximo receso a finales de este mes.

Un grupo de ocho legisladores de la Cámara de Representantes han estado trabajando en su propio proyecto de ley de inmigración desde hace meses. El presidente de la Cámara de Representantes John Boehner (R-OH) dijo hoy que le preocupa la gran cantidad de tiempo que se están tomando para llegar a un acuerdo con la legislación.

(USCIS.gov)

The Senate Judiciary Committee continues immigration reform bill mark-up today.

The amendments discussed this morning have mostly dealt with employment.

• Senator Patrick Leahy’s (D-VT) amendment makes the EB-5 program permanent and improves the efficiency of the program for foreign investors and operators of the regional center.
• Senator Al Franken’s (D-MN) e-verify amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security submit a report setting the error-rate of the e-verify system every year along with recommendations on how to improve the error-rate. Another amendment of his adopted was one that creates an office that small businesses and employees can turn to for e-verify information and assistance.
• Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) amendment requires that a protocol be developed to let individuals know when they are being checked through e-verify.
• Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-IA) amendment requires USCIS send a weekly report to ICE with information about individuals who were not confirmed through the e-verify system. Another amendment of his adopted requires the parent or legal guardian of an individual under the age of 21 seeking employment provide confirmation of child’s identity.
• Senator Richard Blumenthal’s (D-CT) amendment prohibits the withholding of individuals’ employment records for immigration purposes.

The Committee now intends to work through next week and the weekend just so that they can finish before their upcoming recess at the end of this month.

A group of eight House of Representatives lawmakers have been working on their own immigration bill for months now. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said today he is concerned over how long it is taking for the House group to create legislation they agree on.

More on Immigration Reform:

• Immigration Reform 2013
• Gang of 8
• Earned Citizenship
• Streamlining Immigration
• Strengthening Border Security
• More Accountability for Employers Hiring Undocumented Immigrants

El Comité Judicial del Senado modificó el proyecto de ley de reforma migratoria ayer con legislación para mejorar el control sobre las visas estudiantiles.

El senador Chuck Grassley (R-IA) propuso una enmienda que exige que los funcionarios de la Aduana y Protección Fronteriza, CBP, sean notificados inmediatamente cuando una visa estudiantil ya no es válida. Los atentados de Boston fueron la base de esta enmienda.

Uno de los estudiantes acusados del atentado de Boston pudo entrar a los EE.UU. en enero de este año a pesar de que su visa estudiantil ya no era válida. Él no se registró a la escuela antes de salir de los EE.UU., y su visa dejo de ser válida a causa de eso. El funcionario del CBP que permitió que el reingresara a los EE.UU. no tenía esa información disponible. El sistema actual permite un período de gracia de 30 días para que los estudiantes puedan renovar su visa y / o puedan cambiarse a otro estatus autorizado.

Los atentados de Boston dejaron a tres personas muertas e hirieron a más de 260. Los atentados pasaron la misma semana que la Banda de los 8 presento su proyecto de ley de reforma migratoria. Grassley inmediatamente hizo la conexión y vio la importancia de cerrar los hoyos en el sistema de inmigración que podrían evitar tragedias como ésta.

La enmienda fue adoptada con un voto unánime.

El Comité acordó que el tener una mejor comunicación y un sistema más riguroso sería mejor para la seguridad nacional. Si el proyecto de ley de reforma migratoria es aprobado, la ley requeriría una, transferencia de información inmediata de datos del sistema SEVIS para los oficiales de CBP en los puertos de entrada.

Otra enmienda que se aprobó ayer crearía penas más estrictas para instituciones involucradas en fraude de visa estudiantiles y crearía requisitos más estrictos en las escuelas de vuelo. Dos de las personas responsables por los ataques del 9/11 fueron entrenados en escuelas de vuelo.