Monday, February 4th, 2013
Issue 06, Volume 17.


WASHINGTON. D.C. – Representative Darrell Issa (CA-49, which includes Fallbrook and a portion of Southern Riverside County), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, today announced the reintroduction of three immigration reform bills to improve American competitiveness, encourage those who enter the U.S. legally to stay, and impose criminal sentencing for those who enter the country after having been removed.

"We must take a balanced and practical approach to immigration," said Rep. Issa on the introduction of the three bills. "This includes making our country more accessible to those who can fill critical needs and also stiffening penalties for those who continue to violate our laws. From high-tech entrepreneurs to those who fight in our armed services, these reforms offer new benefits and securities that must go hand in hand with tougher enforcement."

Summary of bills reintroduced by Rep. Issa:

·STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 459): Allocates 55,000 visas per year for foreign students receiving advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The STEM Jobs Act builds off visa reform legislation Issa first introduced in 2007 and reintroduced in January 2011. Similar legislation passed the House of Representatives in November 2012.

·Fallen Heroes Family Act (H.R. 45: Grants temporary non-immigrant status to a surviving, foreign national parent or permanent guardian of a U.S. citizen child born outside of the United States when the deceased parent was an active-duty service member of the U.S. military. Issa introduced the Fallen Heroes Family Act in 2009 with bipartisan support.

·Criminal Alien Accountability Act (H.R. 457): Imposes mandatory sentencing for aliens who reenter the United States after having been deported for previous crimes committed in the United States.

Tomorrow at 10:15 a.m., the House Judiciary Committee will hold the first congressional hearing on immigration reform, "America's Immigration System: Opportunities for Legal Immigration and Enforcement of Laws Against Illegal Immigration."

49th District representative Darrell Issa to introduce three immigration reform bills :: The Valley News