Thread: Fair Legislative Update

From: Federation for American Immigration Reform
Date: 2006/09/25 Mon PM 03:15:02 EDT
Subject: FAIR Legislative Update 9-25-2006

Latest News Releases

Illegal Immigration Costs New Yorkers More Than $5 Billion a Year
(September 20, 2006)

Administration Misleads on Immigration Enforcement(September 15, 2006)

FAIR Applauds Passage of Secure Fence Act
(September 14, 2006)

Issue Paper: Wages of Agricultural Workers
(September 7, 2006)

Homeland Security Held Hostage: New Report on Terrorism and Immigration Five Years after 9/11(September 6, 2006)


Check out our Stein Report for the latest immigration news and information!

September 25, 2006

In this update:
Final Legislative Week for Congress Before Elections
House Passes Three Border Security Measures
House Passes the Federal Election Integrity Act
South Carolina Legislature to Tackle Immigration Overhaul
Recent Floor Statements
Press Releases
Upcoming Events
Final Legislative Week for Congress Before Elections
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are set to adjourn this week in order to give Members time to campaign for the November 7th elections. This week the Senate will continue to debate H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006. A vote on this bill is scheduled for tomorrow, September 26, 2006. We encourage you to call your Senators and urge them to vote for the Secure Fence Act.

In the House this week, GOP leadership is expected to bring to the floor conference reports for the defense authorization and defense appropriations bills. Leadership may also bring to the floor the conference report for the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. House leaders have stated that the appropriation bills for either Defense or the Department of Homeland Security may be used as vehicles for the border security legislation passed recently by the House.

At this point, both chambers plan to meet again the week of November 13th for a lame duck session. FAIR will keep you informed as events take place.

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House Passes Three Border Security Measures
On Thursday, September 21, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed three pieces of legislation aimed at increasing border security and cracking down on illegal immigration. Each bill was based on similar language found in H.R. 4437, an enforcement-only measure, passed by the House in December of 2005. House GOP Leadership hopes the passage of these bills will be evidence that Congress is serious about securing the border and enforcing laws. The three bills were H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act of 2006, H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act of 2006 and H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act.

The Community Protection Act will give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the ability to extend detention beyond the current six month maximum for criminal aliens who otherwise are unable to be deported. This in turn would end the practice of allowing violent criminal aliens back on to the streets simply because they cannot be returned to their countries of origin.

The Immigration Law Enforcement Act reaffirms the inherent authority of state and local law enforcement to voluntarily investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain and transfer to federal custody illegal aliens. The bill also increases the number of attorneys hired to help prosecute alien smuggling cases and streamlines litigation procedures that have thwarted DHS's ability to enforce immigration laws.

The Border Tunnel Prevention Act criminalizes the construction and financing of border tunnels. The penalty for such activity is up to 20 years imprisonment. In addition, the bill provides that individuals who permit the construction of tunnels on their property are punishable by up to 10 years in prison. A person caught using the tunnels to smuggle aliens, contraband, drugs, or terrorists will be subject to twice the penalty that would have otherwise been imposed.

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House Passes the Federal Election Integrity Act
On Wednesday, September 20, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006 (H.R. 4844) by a vote of 228-196. H.R.4844 seeks to prevent fraud in the election process by requiring photo identification for voters in federal elections. All states will be mandated to check voters' photo identification by the November 2008 election. By November 2010, states will only be allowed to accept photo identification that was issued upon presenting proof of citizenship.

Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) said in a statement, "Every day millions of Americans show a picture ID to pay by check, board a plane, or buy alcohol or tobacco. Surely, the sanctity of the ballot warrants as much protection as these activities. Requiring people to show an ID to prove their citizenship and eligibility will protect the vote, and help restore confidence in our system."

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South Carolina Legislature to Tackle Immigration Overhaul
The Charleston Post and Courier reported the South Carolina Legislature will make immigration overhaul a top priority for the next legislative session set to begin in January of 2007. State Senator Jim Ritchie was quoted as saying immigration is "one of the highest priorities facing the Senate Judiciary Committee and the General Assembly." Proposals that might be considered would include screening of prisons for illegal aliens and requiring public agencies to verify employees.

One of the reasons the state legislature is looking to tackle the issue in their next legislative session is that the state is not willing to wait for the federal government to fix the problem. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce argues against the state becoming involved in the fray. Yet, many South Carolinians and their members in the state legislature believe the time is now to act, with or without the federal government.

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Recent Floor Statements
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) commented on Appreciation For U.S. Border Patrol Agents (September 21, 2006)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) commented on The Issues Affecting America (September 21, 2006)
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) commented on Congress Is Acting On Illegal Immigration (September 21, 2006)
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) commented on Protect Our Borders (September 21, 2006)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) commented on Agricultural Workers (September 20, 2006)
Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) commented Support The Federal Election Integrity Act Of 2006 (September 20, 2006)
Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) commented on Americans Deserve Real Immigration Reform (September 20, 2006)
Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY) commented on Immigration (September 20, 2006)
Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) commented on Secure Fence Act Of 2006--Motion To Proceed (September 20, 2006)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) commented on Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 6061, Secure Fence Act Of 2006 (September 20, 2006)
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) commented on ``Border Security First'' Does Not Mean ``Border Security Only'' (September 20, 2006)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on America Even Better Than Wal-Mart (September 20, 2006)
Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) commented on Securing Our Borders (September 19, 2006)
Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) commented on Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 6061, Secure Fence Act Of 2006 (September 19, 2006)
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) commented on Secure Borders (September 19, 2006)
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) commented on Support Of U.S. Border Patrol Agents (September 19, 2006)
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) commented on Real Security Special Order (September 19, 2006)
Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) commented on Secure Fence Act Of 2006--Motion To Proceed (September 18, 2006)
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Press Releases
Illegal Immigration Costs New Yorkers More Than $5 Billion a Year (September 20, 2006)
Administration Misleads on Immigration Enforcement (September 15, 2006)
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Upcoming Events
Senate Judiciary Committee/Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "U.S. Refugee Admissions and Policy."
When/Where: September 27, 2006, 3 PM, 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
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