Thread: Senate Judiciary Summary of Immigration Deal--A must read!

This has been written and published by the Senate Judiciary Committee:

Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007

Title I
Title I requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to certify that the triggers are met before the Title IV (Guest Worker) and Title VI (Z visa ) programs can begin, with the exception of probationary status for Z workers and the programs for agricultural workers.

• Triggers include:
o 18,000 (CBP) Border Patrol hired
o Construction of 200 miles of vehicle barriers and 370 miles of fencing
o 70 ground-based radar and camera towers along the southern border
o Deployment of 4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and supporting systems
o The ending of catch-and-release
o Resources to detain up to 27,500 aliens per day on an annual basis
o The use of secure and effective identification tools to prevent unauthorized work.
o The receiving and processing and adjudicating of applications for Z status.

• Title I also includes authorities and resources to augment border security including:
o physical infrastructure along the border
o additional field and investigative agents
o comprehensive plans and studies of the border region
o revisions to law enforcement techniques and enhanced authorities.

Title II
Title II provides for interior enforcement of immigration laws.

• The stiffening of laws and penalties relate to:
o the detention of criminal aliens
o the definition of aggravated felony
o gang violence
o passport, visa, and immigration fraud, including marriage fraud

• Other provisions include language regarding:
o Increased penalties for illegal entry and reentry
o encouraging aliens to depart voluntarily
o prohibiting aliens from possessing firearms
o alternatives to detention
o state and local law enforcement reimbursement and training
o the streamlining of background checks for immigration status


Title III
Title III addresses workplace enforcement by increasing penalties, revising and making mandatory a system of electronic employment verification, and promoting information sharing.

• This Title designs a worksite enforcement system that relies on electronic employment verification and a reduced list of documents that may be presented to employers to prove identity and work eligibility.
o Also increases penalties significantly over current law for unlawful hiring, employment, and recordkeeping violations.

• Verification of employees: As of the date of enactment, employers in national security-related industries, industries involving critical infrastructure, and federal contractors may be required to electronically verify employees, including new hires and/or current employees, with additional employers or industries added after 6 months.
o All employers would be required to electronically verify new hires within 18 months of enactment, or on the date on which the Secretary certifies that the system is operational.
o Once the system is implemented, all employers would be required to verify all current employees within by 3 years after enactment.

• Structure of the EEVS: After the date of hire but no later than the first day of employment, the employer must transmit to the EEVS via the Internet the data that the employer has taken from the worker’s identity and work eligibility documents.

• Inconclusive determinations: Where the EEVS cannot conclusively determine the status of a worker’s eligibility, a further action notice is issued and the individual must contact the appropriate federal or state agency to initiate resolution of status and the individual continues to work while the agency resolves his or her status.

• Final nonconfirmation: If the employer has received a final non-confirmation regarding an individual, the employer must terminate the employment of the individual, unless the individual files an administrative appeal of a final non-confirmation notice within 15 days.

• Data and Information Sharing: The Commissioner of Social Security must information to the Secretary of DHS regarding data contained within the Social Security database as in relates to employment verification.

• Fraud and tamper resistant social security cards: Not later than 180 days after date of enactment, the Commissioner is required to begin work to administer and issue fraud-resistant, tamper-resistant Social Security cards.

Title IV
Title IV establishes a new temporary Y worker program to address future labor needs of temporary foreign workers and discourage future illegal employment of undocumented individuals. The title also includes measures to protect the rights of U.S. and foreign workers and prevent the U.S. employer from abusing the program.

• Structure of new visa programs: This title creates a new future temporary worker program for workers who are coming to the U.S. to perform temporary job that the U.S. employer is unable to fill. It provides for:
o non-seasonal Y temporary worker (Y-1 visa)
o seasonal temporary worker
 Y-2A for agricultural workers, sheepherder, goat herders, and dairy workers
 Y-2B for non-agricultural workers; and
o their spouses and minor children (Y-3 visa).

• Matching Willing Workers with Willing Employers: All Y workers must be matched to a “willing employersâ€

This is Amnesty and Rewards for Criminals.

NO! Enforce our Laws!

Dixie

OUTRAGEOUS!!!!

JUST SAY NO!!!!!

Zis iZ totally unacZZeptable!

NO!!!!!!!!!! STAND UP and do the right thing ...instead of being dictated to by corrupt men! Corrupt Organizations and Business!

Anything short of sending these people home either thru attrition/enforcement or deportation IS AMNESTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU work for Ameircan citizens!!! NOT LA RAZZA , BIG BUSINESS OR ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States could be put on the path to citizenship under a new immigration bill agreed upon Thursday by a bipartisan group of senators.

"The agreement we just reached is the best possible chance we will have to secure our borders, bring millions of people out of the shadows and into the sunshine of America," Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said.

President Bush expressed gratitude to the senators for their work. (Watch senators explain how the bill works )

"I really am anxious to sign a comprehensive immigration bill as soon as I possibly can," he told reporters outside the White House. "Today, we took a good step toward this direction."

The bill is going to the Senate next week and if it passes, will then proceed to the House.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told the White House that she's not going to bring the issue to the floor unless the president can deliver at least 70 votes.

But Republican Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the bill is not a done deal.

He said he has "concerns with the principles outlined in today's announcement."

"I believe today's announcement is somewhat premature because specific legislative text has yet to be drafted on a number of key details," Cornyn said in a statement. "Until I have the opportunity to review this text, I will withhold from making more detailed comments."

The 380-page bill, which comes after nearly three months of negotiations, would give immediate work authorization to undocumented workers who arrived in the United States before January 1, 2007.

Heads of household would have to return to their home country within eight years, and they would be guaranteed the right to return.

Applicants would also have to pay a $5,000 penalty.

Additionally, the number of Border Patrol agents would be doubled, border fencing would be strengthened and employers who hire undocumented workers would face fines.

The process of enforcing those provisions would take about 18 months, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

After the provisions are in place, a guest-worker program would be initiated, under which 400,000 temporary workers per year would be granted a "Y" visa.

The two-year visas would require they return home for a year, then allow them to re-enter for an additional two-years. The process could be repeated twice more.

Each year, they would be able to bring their families on 30-day visitor visas, and each year, they would earn points toward a merit-based green card.

Specter: This is not amnesty

"It is not amnesty," said Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. "This will restore the rule of law."

Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona called the bill "a first step, but an important first step, to moving forward with comprehensive overall immigration reform."

"I'm sure that there are certain provisions that each of us would not agree with, but this is what the legislative process is all about," said Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, acknowledged that not everyone will be pleased with the bill's treatment of the immigration issue.

"To the American people, I would say, 'Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good,' " she said.

She said the bill would ensure that border security is strong and that farmers -- who depend largely on an undocumented work force -- will be able to find workers.

"From my perspective, it's not perfect, but it represents the best opportunity that we have, in a bipartisan way, to do something about this problem," said Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said the bill started out being about how to deal with illegal immigration "and wound up being about what it means to be an American ... I think we've got a deal that reflects who we are as Americans."

He added, "From the Ph.D. to the landscaper, there's a chance for you to participate in the American dream on our terms in a way that makes this country better."

Graham predicted the bill would find "overwhelming" support among lawmakers.

Debate on the bill is slated to get under way in the Senate on Monday, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said she wants passage of a bill before August.

Bush: Immigration a tough issue for a lot of Americans

Bush described immigration as "a tough issue for a lot of Americans," but added, "The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our borders but, equally importantly, it will treat people with respect. This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty but without animosity."

That view was challenged by Republican Rep. Brian Bilbray of California, chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus.

"The 'compromise' announced today by Sen. Kennedy will reward 12 million illegal immigrants with a path to citizenship -- what part of illegal does the Senate not understand?" he said in a written statement.

"Any plan that rewards illegal behavior is amnesty."

The American Immigration Lawyers Association decried the proposal as "large-scale social experimentation," singling out the "guest worker" program as one that would preclude a path to permanent residence for new temporary workers.

"A practical solution for the undocumented population is an enormously important step in the right direction," the association said in a written statement. "But the cost of fixing our current problems cannot be the creation of bigger problems in the future."

But Chertoff told CNN that the bill would help him better focus his resources.

"Right now, I've got my Border Patrol agents and my immigration agents chasing maids and landscapers. I want them to focus on drug dealers and terrorists. It seems to me, if I can get the maids and landscapers into a regulated system and focus my law enforcement on the terrorists and the drug dealers, that's how I get a safe border

bttt

Are these illegals supposed to have been here before a certain date? Do they stop at the border and get their forehead stamped so they can show when they snuck across or do we just ask them. Perhaps if we could put a turnstile on the border we could just write the name and date as they came through. I wouldn't think any of their friends already here would fib and say they been here mucho long time. That wouldn't be legal.
12-20 million illegals here doing the jobs americans won't do and the California farmers can't find workers to harvest their crops. Hmm,whats wrong with this picture?

Specter: This is not amnesty

"It is not amnesty," said Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. "This will restore the rule of law."

This is just TOO GOOD to pass up!!

We now RESTORE THE RULE OF LAW by letting the LAW BREAKERS BREAK THE LAW

Please, someone get me a padded room

Has anybody realized that this can be constitutionally challanged in US Supreme Court? Because it can, this is one option we have if this happens to pass into law.