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 News from Around the Americas | April 2005 
US Takes Steps Toward Immigration Reform
 LATimes
| | Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora, holds up a prototype Social Security card that would include improved anti-forgery technology and a photo of the cards holder. Dreier is sponsoring a bill that would modernize Social Security cards and stiffen penalties for employers who hire illegal immigrants. |
A variety of immigration-related bills are pending in Congress. Here's an update of the main inititives, their sponsors, their pupose and their current status within the US government's long road to completion.
IMPROVED SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS (HR 98)
Sponsor: Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora
What it would do: Enforce restrictions on employment in the U.S. of illegal residents by modernizing Social Security cards that could be checked against an Employment Eligibility Database and increase penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims.
EARNED LEGALIZATION (HR 257)
Sponsor: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas
What it would do: Create a program allowing for earned legalization of immigrants, eliminate the authority of state personnel to report and detain undocumented immigrants, increase the number of visas issued by the U.S. government and allow the secretary of Homeland Security to waive certain prohibitions in granting legal status to immigrants.
Status: Referred to House Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims.
REAL ID ACT (HR 418)
Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-WI
What it would do: Close a 3.5 mile gap in the San Diego border fence, raise asylum standards and prohibit the use of drivers licenses as identification for federal purposes if issued by states that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain them.
Status: Pending in the Senate.
CITIZENSHIP REFORM (HR 698)
Sponsor: Rep. Nathan Deal, R-GA, and co-sponsored by Gary Miller, R-Brea, and others
What it would do: Deny automatic citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are not citizens or permanent residents.
Status: Referred to House Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims.
FOREIGN ID (HR 815)
Sponsor: Rep. Scott Garrett, R-NJ
What it would do: Prohibit the use of identification cards issued by foreign governments, including matricula consular cards, for purposes of verifying the identity of a person who opens an account at a financial institution.
Status: Referred to a House subcommittee.
BORDER HOSPITALS (HR 1319)
Sponsor: Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas
What it would do: Provide $250 million in federal funding for hospitals near the U.S.-Mexico border that treat immigrants, $4 million for environmental infrastructure projects and $5 million to the International Boundary and Water Commission to support long-range planning of water supply use among border communities.
Status: referred to several House committees.
NO SOCIAL SECURITY FOR IMMIGRANTS (HR 1438)
Sponsor: Dana Rohrobacher, R-Huntington Beach
What it would do: Employment income received by illegal immigrants would not count toward participation in the Social Security system.
Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
PASSPORT FRAUD (SB 524)
Sponsor: Dianne Feinstein, D-CA
What it would do: Strengthen the consequences of fraudulent use of U.S. or foreign passports and other immigration documents.
Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. |
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