Thread: US Senate Convenes (9:33am ET) - Getting Starting

Harry Reid Laying out agenda for the day.

Kennedy asks for meeting until mid-evening today (until about 8:00pm)

First 60 minutes by Dems, 2nd 60 minutes by Reps.


Sen Whitehouse (D-RI) speaking...

Talking about healthcare reform - following up from discussion from yesterday, and earlier....

Thanks I didn't think it started for another Half hour : I'm tuned in now

Cantwell (D-WA) has the floor...

[Note - watch for her to do Bill Gates' slave-bidding on the H1b issue later. Last year during passage of S2611, she introduced an amendment to specifically and exclusively increase level of H1b visas]

Now: Talking about oil prices, potential price gouging, etc.

Cantwell done, yields floor ....

(Pause in the action...)

I'm turned in.

Grassley (R-IA) has floor.

Going to speak about S1348 immigration bill.

In his opinion, it contains 'amnesty' provision - he will refer to it as an 'amnesty program for IAs' in US.

Referring to 1986 bill -he voted for it. He is here to say that amnesty even in 1986 was the wrong thing to do. ..Rewarding illegality, produces more lawlessness.

Earlier bill shortsighted, and unworkable. Soft on enforcment, legal reforms, thought IA would decline - but didn't.

1986 amnesty req'd 6 years to enact.

So, we're back here to consider another 'band-aid' on the issue. I don' blame the American people for being mad we're note enforcing the law.
People are cynical on this issue - and have no faith of enforcement.

He wants to talk about trigger mechanism...

Trigger included in bill, says Y, Z Visas -subject to trigger.

(Refer to Roy Rogers 'trigger'... would say 'boys, saddle up - it's going to be a rough ride ahead').

There is a trigger in budget resolution - and in bill.

Thought I'd help you out, PhredE. The 15 reasons Grassley is covering now were posted elsewhere. Thought I'd transfer those reasons here since he is currently going over them (save your fingers a little stress).

Senator Grassley’s Top 15 Flaws in the Amnesty Program:



· Probationary benefits not subject to the trigger – Probationary benefits, including work authorization, protection from removal, and a social security number are granted to illegal aliens immediately, even if the alien’s background check is not complete.



· Many criminal provisions may be waived – Numerous criminal provisions are waived for eligibility purposes. For example, an alien who falsely claims U.S. citizenship would be considered eligible for amnesty even though it’s a crime.



· Background checks taken too lightly – An illegal alien can apply for probationary status and a Z visa without thorough background checks. Immediately after the bill passes, the alien can apply for probationary legal status and receive a card even if the alien’s background check is not complete.



· Illegal aliens protected from removal – If an alien is in removal proceedings, or being detained, at the time of enactment, the alien can still apply for amnesty. Aliens who apply for amnesty cannot be detained or deported while their application is being processed, essentially giving them immunity from justice.



· Terrorists and criminals can apply for amnesty – The Secretary of Homeland Security is allowed to waive the grounds of ineligibility for those who have an outstanding administrative final order of removal, deportation or exclusion. Currently there are more than 637,000 alien absconders in the United States that have defied orders to leave.



· Taxes – Illegal aliens are required to provide the IRS information about tax payments only when applying for legal permanent residence, if that avenue is pursued. Illegal aliens can skirt the federal, state and local tax laws because its not a requirement to prove one has paid outstanding tax liabilities to get probationary or Z status.



· Limits eligibility to illegal aliens – Creates a Z nonimmigrant visa program for illegal aliens and illegal aliens only. No one else is eligible for this program, particularly those waiting their turn in line. Also, there’s no cap on the number of eligible participants.



· Indefinite renewal for Z nonimmigrant visas – Z nonimmigrant visas are valid for four years and may be renewed indefinitely. This is a disincentive for illegal aliens to pay the $4,000 penalty, touch-back to their home country, prove they’ve paid their taxes, or receive a medical exam.



· Health standards ignored – No medical exam or immunizations are needed to get a Z visa.



· No incentive to learn English – There is no English requirement to get a Z visa. Each Z nonimmigrant must only demonstrate "an attempt to gain an understanding of the English language" upon the first renewal of a Z visa. There are waivers for this requirement.



· Green card applicants not required to return to home country – Green card applications (only for heads of household, not dependents) must be filed in person outside the U.S. but not necessarily in the alien's country of origin. The alien can then reenter (same day) under a Z nonimmigrant visa because it serves as a valid travel document. There are exceptions for this requirement.



· Fines are False and Misleading – Not everyone is required to pay the $5,000 penalty. To get a Z visa, a principal alien (Z-1 or head of household) must pay a $1,000 penalty, a $500 penalty for each dependent, a processing fee, and a $500 state impact fee. Dependents must also pay a processing fee. To renew a Z nonimmigrant visa, each Z visa holder must pay a processing fee no greater than $1,500. To get a greencard, if the alien intends to pursue this route, a Z-1 nonimmigrant must pay a $4,000 penalty. Z-2 (parents and spouse) and Z-3 (children) aliens are only required to pay application fees.



· Fines won’t adequately pay for cost of amnesty – The bulk of the monetary fines are required at the end of the program. All fines may be paid in installments and waivers are available in extraordinary circumstances.



· Impact on state and local government – State impact money will be granted to states to provide services for non-citizens only, instead of providing services to all citizens impacted by the large number of illegal immigrants (school systems, health care services).



· Revocation of terrorist visas – Visas revoked on terrorism grounds would allow Z visa holders to remain in the United States and use the U.S. court system to appeal terrorism charges. The bill, including the amnesty program, does not address visa revocation for any visa holder.

Rider looks safe and comfy, but wants to make the point -

We can't trust the trigger in this bill.

I heard other members say how amnesty won't kick in until trigger conditions met - pg2:

12 mil IAs apply, get probationary card. Gives: Work Auth, SS#, restriction from removal.

4 Key Actions:

1. Establishment of Employer Verification Sys - make employer responsible for legal employees. Trigger says it ONLY needs to be established.
No one forced to used until 3 yrs.

2. 18,000 BP agents added. Already have 14,000 - req.4000 more be hired. No Req. to be stationed.

3. 370 miles of real fence. Underway, auth is 700 miles in SFA 2006, billions authorized - why doesn't trigger require all 700 miles be built.

DHS Detention space for 20,000+ aliens - existing space is filled TODAY.

4. End Catch-Release. In theory - we ended this already (according to Chertoff). Later in bill, OTMs - can be released on $5000 bond.
'False and misleading'

How can we be assured security provision be in place before trigger takes effect

A lot is missing:

Title I - Border
Nat'l Border Security Plan - needed now, not later

Authorizations req DHS personnel. - not part of trigger.

Before amnesty, interior enforcement measures should be met.

Since 1996, Entry/Exit system - US Visit program needs to fully functional.
(only partly implemented - admin decided exit system 'not worth the cost' - still needs to be implemented)
We should be ashamed that is not done yet.


Wants to address flaws in Title 6, and Z Visas :

Going to list top 15 flaws

1. Probationary benefit not subject to trigger

2. Many criminal provision are waived (ex. false claim of c-ship)

3. Background checks taken too lightly.

4. IAs are protected from removal

5. Terrorists can apply for amnesty

6. Taxes - IAs are reqd to provide IRS tax info

7. Limits elig. to IAs (only illegals can apply to program no one else)! No cap on number

8. Indefinite renewal on Z non-imm visa. (disincentives)

9. Health standards ignored

10. No incentive to learn English

11. GC applicants are not reqd to return to home country (only leave to ANOTHER country)

12. Fines are false and misleading - not everyone is reqd to pay fines.

13. Fines won't adequately pay for amnesty. Waivers are available too

14. Impact on State/Local gov't - reqd to provide non-citizens services
(Schools, Health Care, etc)

15. Revocation of Terrorist' Visa

I would like someone to be able to tell me 'this will be the last amnesty'.

In 1986 we made a big mistake...


Yields floor...

[Thanks MW]