Thread: True?? Good Bye GOP: Illegal Alien Amnesty Slipped Into Mili

I cant find what was sent to you. I however found this insteresting, of course you probably already know. I didnt

OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN HAROLD ROGERS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY

July 27th, 2006 - -
Today we are pleased to welcome Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to discuss the Department’s border security and immigration enforcement efforts.

Mr. Secretary, this is the third hearing this Subcommittee has held on the issue of border security since the announcement of the Secure Border Initiative in November of 2005. And over these last nine months, a great many things have changed. Central among those changes is the major influx of appropriations for the Department’s border security and immigration enforcement programs—including $1.2 billion provided in the recently enacted supplemental and another $19.6 billion proposed in the House-passed fiscal year 2007 appropriations bill. In addition, we now have almost 3,600 National Guard troops assisting CBP along the Southwest Border and are expecting another 2,400 in the coming weeks.

But what also has arisen during these last nine months are questions—questions about how the Department of Homeland Security can turn the tide on the persistent problem of illegal immigration, and actually apply these new resources in a way that—once and for all—gives us control of our borders.

Today’s hearing is a chance for you, Mr. Secretary, to present a status report of where the Department of Homeland Security is with respect to securing our borders and improving our immigration system. It is an opportunity to discuss how the Department is going to effectively use the National Guard and the massive infusion of funds to gain the control of our borders that has become an unquestioned necessity in a post-9/11 world.

No longer can the illegal immigration debate be simplified into a question of resources—this Subcommittee is clearly providing you the money. What we want is results. Today we are not going to get into a lengthy debate on immigration policy nor discuss the failed attempts at border security of the past. Today, we are going to discuss how DHS is enforcing the law as it is currently written—and that means preventing illegal immigration and providing for the control of our borders.

I want to re-iterate a point that Mr. Sabo and I made to you shortly after the supplemental was enacted—with these resources comes accountability. We are requiring bi-monthly status reports on the Department’s performance and the expenditure of funds on border security. We are absolutely committed to holding the Department accountable so that this opportunity to significantly improve our nation’s security is not squandered.

The task before you is certainly not easy. Providing for the security of our borders is one of the core reasons DHS was created and is one of our top homeland security priorities. So as the responsibility of this great task rests upon your shoulders, know that we are your committed partners. I assure you that no one wants to see you succeed more than the Members of this Subcommittee

http://appropriations.house.gov/index.c ... &Year=2006

Found that interesting


Also read this one from June 7th
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.c ... &Year=2006

$2.33 billion for border security, adding 1,200 new Border Patrol agents, for a total of 13,580;
$4.1 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), adding 1,212 officers, for a total of 11,500;
$3.1 billion for the Coast Guard’s homeland security missions;
$1.29 billion for ICE custody management, adding 4,870 detention beds, for a total of 25,670;
$273 million for transportation and removal of undocumented aliens;
$115 million for border security technology and tactical infrastructure;
$535 million for Air and Marine Operations for border and airspace security, including $33.5 million for enhancements to aerial surveillance along our borders, coastlines, and in the source/transit zone;
$200 million for 28 Fugitive Operations teams for a total of 80 nation-wide;
$105 million for the Criminal Alien Program, including 40 new agents;
$46 million for Alternatives to Detention;
$362 million for the US-VISIT program; and
$114 million to support immigration verification systems.

Hmm. How can someone spend that much money on "security" with no results.

I started searching each individual bill introduced.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ ... -headlines

Senate to vote on Mikulski plan to extend worker visa program
Originally published April 4, 2006


WASHINGTON // The Senate could vote as early as today on a proposal from Maryland Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski to extend for three years a policy expanding a visa program for seasonal foreign workers that has become a critical source of labor for seafood processors in the state.

Mikulski, a Democrat, offered her proposal as an amendment to the immigration reform bill under consideration in the Senate. Last year, Congress agreed to allow seasonal workers who had already come to the United States through the visa program, known as H2B, to return for the 2005 and 2006 seasons, even if the annual cap of 66,000 workers had already been reached.

Mikulski's amendment - supported by a number of lawmakers from coastal states, including both Virginia senators and Maryland Democratic Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes - would extend the expanded program through the 2009 season.

The cap had become a problem because, in recent years, it has been reached earlier and earlier as winter seasonal workers use up all the slots. Last spring, Maryland seafood packers accustomed to hiring workers from Latin America were faced with a shortage of workers until Congress stepped in.

Visas for those workers for this year's crab season, which begins in April, are already lined up, and the overall immigration bill contains provisions dealing with temporary workers. But Mikulski said yesterday that the extension is "a safety net" in case there is a lag in getting the new rules up and running.

[Gwyneth K. Shaw]

~~~~~~~

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ ... -headlines

House passes extension for visas
Md. seafood processors hope foreign workers can begin arriving in weeks
By Rona Kobell and Chris Guy
Sun Staff
Originally published May 6, 2005
Emergency legislation allowing foreign workers to return to jobs at crab-picking houses on Maryland's Eastern Shore cleared its last major hurdle yesterday as the House of Representatives easily approved the measure, which supporters slipped into an unrelated military spending bill.

The Senate is expected to send the whole bill to President Bush for his signature next week. That should start a process that will let hundreds of Mexican workers, mostly women, come back to the United States to spend the rest of the crab season working in seafood processing plants that are anxious to have them.

"I'm very pleased for those small businesses, and relieved that this battle is over," said Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, an Eastern Shore Republican, who helped shepherd the bill through Congress.

Maryland's seafood processors were happy about the congressional action - but said they are not ready to uncork champagne. On tiny Hoopers Island, the sliver of Dorchester County that is home to most of the shore's seafood plants, residents still don't know when the Mexicans who keep the summer economy humming will arrive.

"We've gotten all excited before, but each time, you wind up with more hurdles to go through," said Jay Newcomb of A.E. Phillips Seafood. Added seafood processor Robin Hall: "I've heard it's a done deal, but I don't want to say that. I'm sitting here with my fingers crossed and my mouth shut."

The measure approved yesterday, added to the spending bill by Maryland's Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, addresses a visa program known as H2B that has allowed 66,000 seasonal foreign workers into the country every year since 1990.

The program has been a lifeline for seafood processors, landscapers and, in some states, hotel operators who have struggled to find American workers to take low-paying jobs.

Normally, the workers would have begun arriving in Maryland by early April to pick crabs. But this year, the program's 66,000-worker national quota was reached in early January - before many Maryland businesses were allowed to apply. Only a handful of crab houses got their workers; others have wondered whether they would have to shut down for good.

Mikulski and other senators had previously tried to expand H2B limits, but those bills failed when they became mired in a larger immigration-reform discussion. This time, when the Maryland Democrat introduced the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act, she focused on emergency relief.

The bill lets workers who have previously participated in the H2B program return this year and next - giving Congress time to hammer out an immigration bill while solving the current crisis. It also tightens anti-fraud rules and divides the visas among West and East Coast states.

Though the Senate passed the H2B amendment last month by an overwhelming majority of 94-6, those monitoring the legislation expected a rougher ride in the House, which is known for being tough on immigration. Several members didn't want any provisions on the bill that weren't germane to war funding.

But Gilchrest said many members from both parties supported the amendment after hearing from suffering small businesses in their home states. The congressman said he appealed to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who said they would not try to remove the provision from the larger war bill.

"Today we knew that we were at the bottom of the Ferris wheel and we were getting off on the chair there, on sturdy ground," Gilchrest said. "There was a lot of discussion beforehand, and all the issues were resolved."

For months, owners of Maryland's crab-picking houses have fielded calls from worried Mexican employees, many of whom can't find work in their poverty-stricken home states. They earn as much as $80 a day during the five or six months they spend in the United States cleaning crabs - far more than the $9 a day they net shaping corn for tamales, which is often the only available job back home.

Until recently, plant owner Virgil "Sonny" Ruark couldn't be too encouraging. But this week, when he received a call from longtime employee Trinidad Tovar Tovar of Palomas, he could finally offer some hope.

"I told her to sit tight, and maybe we could get them here by early June," said Ruark, whose company needs about 16 workers. "That's probably a little optimistic, but she wanted to hear some good news."

So far, the delay in the workers' arrival hasn't hurt the processors too much - water temperatures have been colder than usual for this time of year, and there have been few crabs. But substantial crab harvests are likely to begin soon - and the workers aren't likely to be here yet. Even if the president signs the bill as expected next week, the workers probably won't be able to enter the country for at least a month.

Once the bill becomes law, a three-part process begins.

First, the Department of Homeland Security needs to process all of the applications. Then, the workers need to go to U.S. consulates in their country for the visas. Finally, the workers need to arrange transportation to the United States.

Normally, the process is staggered, based on when different industries in different states need their workers. But this year, the applications will likely come all at once.

Shawn Saucier, spokesman for citizenship and immigration services at the Department of Homeland Security, declined yesterday to discuss specific steps the agency was taking to handle the influx. But he said the staff was ready to expedite processing once the bill passed.

For some industries, the delay won't be a huge problem. Robert Laltoo, who owns a Vermont inn as well as a company that matches up H2B workers with prospective employers, said many businesses that usually rely on the visas have made other arrangements. Those that haven't will probably get their workers by late June or early July - still in time for New England's peak tourism season.

"Better late than never. I don't think it's going to be too bad," Laltoo said.

But Juan del Alamo, whose Charlottesville, Va., company acts as a facilitator in bringing workers from Mexico to Maryland's seafood plants, isn't so confident. He estimates the consulate in Monterrey, Mexico, can process about 500 applications a day. Though May is a slow month, June is busy with agricultural visa applications, which could further slow the process.

Del Alamo expects that the companies he works with will all send in their applications by express mail to Homeland Security as soon as they're able, and they'll all pay the $1,000 fee to expedite their applications.

"They're going to go from one day of none to one day of many applications coming in," he said. "And how are they going to do it? That's been the question we've been asking them for months. And they don't have a good answer."

Sun staff writer Gwyneth K. Shaw contributed to this article.

They keep pushing us ...... it's not going to be pretty.

Not only are we being burdened on every bill with PORK, now we have Illegals tacked on.

Yea, I got real peeved when I saw her carb cake recipe on her website. Senator, shuck this!

Dixie

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D ... uery.html|

S.352
Title: A bill to revise certain requirements for H-2B employers and require submission of information regarding H-2B non-immigrants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] (introduced 2/10/2005) Cosponsors (3
Related Bills: H.R.793
Latest Major Action: 2/10/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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Jump to: Summary, Major Actions, All Actions, Titles, Cosponsors, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments

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SUMMARY AS OF:
2/10/2005--Introduced.

Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2005 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit an alien counted toward the numerical limitation applicable to H-2B nonimmigrants (temporary nonagricultural workers) during any of the three fiscal years prior to submission of an H-2B petition from being counted toward the limitation in the year of petition approval. Makes this provision effective as if enacted on October 1, 2004. Provides for its expiration on October 1, 2006.

Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to impose a fraud prevention and detection fee on employers filing H-2B petitions. Mandates the deposit of such fees into the Fraud Prevention and Detection Account.

Authorizes additional penalties for a substantial failure to meet any condition of an H-2B petition or the willful misrepresentation of a material fact in such a petition.

Requires the allocation of the numerical limitation on the issuance of H-2B visas (currently, 66,000) such that the total number of H-2B nonimmigrants entering the United States during the first six months of a fiscal year is not more than 33,000.

Amends the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 to require the Secretary to submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate information regarding: (1) the numbers of aliens granted H-2B status or terminated from H-2B status, on a quarterly basis; and (2) the countries of origin, occupations of, and compensation paid to aliens granted H-2B status, the number of aliens terminated from such status, and the number of aliens provided such status during both the fiscal year reported and the preceding fiscal year, on an annual basis. Requires the Secretary of State to provide information relevant to such reports.

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MAJOR ACTIONS:
***NONE***
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ALL ACTIONS:
2/10/2005:
Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1280-1281)
2/10/2005:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1281)
4/13/2005:
Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3533)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RELATED BILL DETAILS: (additional related bills may be indentified in Status)
Bill: Relationship:
H.R.793 Related bill identified by CRS

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z ... uery.html|

H.R.793
Title: To revise certain requirements for H-2B employers and require submission of information regarding H-2B nonimmigrants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] (introduced 2/14/2005) Cosponsors (85)
Related Bills: S.352
Latest Major Action: 4/4/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z ... uery.html|

H.R.793
Title: To revise certain requirements for H-2B employers and require submission of information regarding H-2B nonimmigrants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Gilchrest, Wayne T. [MD-1] (introduced 2/14/2005) Cosponsors (85)
Related Bills: S.352
Latest Major Action: 4/4/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.

S.359
Title: A bill to provide for the adjustment of status of certain foreign agricultural workers, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform the H-2A worker program under that Act, to provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, to extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] (introduced 2/10/2005) Cosponsors (4
Related Bills: H.R.884
Latest Major Action: 2/10/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY AS OF:
2/10/2005--Introduced.

Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits, and Security Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant qualifying alien agricultural workers (and their spouses and minor children) temporary resident status and subsequently lawful permanent resident status upon the fulfillment of specified agricultural work and residency requirements.

Sets forth provisions with respect to: (1) adjustment of status applications, including penalties for false statements; (2) the waiver of numerical limitations and certain grounds for inadmissibility; (3) the temporary stay of removal and work authorization; (4) administrative and judicial review; and (5) dissemination of program information.

Amends the Social Security Act to provide for the correction of such aliens' social security records.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to set forth application requirements for H-2A (temporary agricultural worker) employers and employer associations, including assurances: (1) that the job opportunity is temporary or seasonal and is not the result of a labor dispute; (2) that attempts have been made to hire U.S. workers; and (3) respecting required wages and benefits and compliance with labor laws.

Sets forth employment requirements with respect to H-2A worker wages, housing, and transportation reimbursement. Establishes the Commission on Agricultural Wage Standards under the H-2A program.

Revises provisions respecting the admission and extension of stay of H-2A workers. Provides special rules for alien sheepherders.

Sets forth worker protection and labor standards enforcement provisions for such aliens.
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ALL ACTIONS:
2/10/2005:
Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1288-1289)
2/10/2005:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
2/18/2005:
Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1710-1712)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COSPONSORS(4,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RELATED BILL DETAILS: (additional related bills may be indentified in Status)
Bill: Relationship:
H.R.884 Identical bill identified by CRS

H.R.884
Title: To provide for the adjustment of status of certain foreign agricultural workers, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform the H-2A worker program under that Act, to provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, to extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] (introduced 2/17/2005) Cosponsors (56)
Related Bills: S.359
Latest Major Action: 4/4/2005 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.
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Note:

Co-sponsored by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz, it

Kyl is not a co sponsor on this. Still looking.

S.2087
Title: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for the employment of foreign agricultural workers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 12/13/2005) Cosponsors (3)
Latest Major Action: 12/13/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jump to: Summary, Major Actions, All Actions, Titles, Cosponsors, Committees, Related Bill Details, Amendments

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY AS OF:
12/13/2005--Introduced.

Agricultural Employment and Workforce Protection Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) prepare and submit to Congress a comprehensive plan, including detailed strategies, timelines, and estimated costs, to establish operational control of U.S. borders and effectively enforce immigration laws within the United States; (2) develop a plan for using Department of Defense (DOD) equipment for surveillance of U.S. international land borders; and (3) increase the number of full-time Customs and Border Protection Officers. Authorizes the Secretary to construct additional land ports of entry to enhance U.S. border security.

Authorizes state or local law enforcement officials to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to: (1) require the Secretary to accept custody of illegal aliens held by state or local law enforcement officials; (2) reimburse states and local governments for the costs of holding and transporting such aliens; and (3) make aliens who are members of criminal street gangs ineligible for admission to the United States.

Requires the Secretary to: (1) hire additional personnel to investigate immigration status violations; (2) provide the National Crime Information Center with information on certain classes of illegal aliens; and (3) build or acquire additional alien detention facilities.

Amends the INA to: (1) revise requirements for the H-2A visa (temporary agricultural workers); (2) establish a cross-border commuter worker program (H-2AA) to allow Canadian and Mexican workers to enter and exit the United States for work purposes each day; and (3) establish a blue card program for undocumented agricultural workers who have at least 1600 hours of agricultural employment in the United States in 2005 and have no criminal record. Allows such workers to work in the United States for two years.

ALL ACTIONS:
12/13/2005:
Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13504-130505)
12/13/2005:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE(S): (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
***NONE***
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COSPONSORS(3), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 3/27/2006 Sen Cochran, Thad [MS] - 3/28/2006
Sen Lott, Trent [MS] - 3/16/2006

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COMMITTEE(S):
Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
Senate Judiciary Referral, In Committee

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RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***
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AMENDMENT(S):
***NONE***