Posted on 12/08/2005 4:39:01 PM PST by DumpsterDiver
Judiciary Committee Approves Legislation Preventing Illegal Immigration and Bolstering Border Security
To: National Desk Contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn, 202-225-2492, both of the House Judiciary Committee, Office of Communications, Web: judiciary.house.gov
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The House Judiciary Committee today on a party-line 23-to-15 vote approved legislation introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) that prevents illegal immigration and takes needed steps to gain control over our borders. H.R. 4437 is expected to be considered by the House next week.
Chairman Sensenbrenner said, "This legislation will help restore the integrity of our Nation's borders and reestablish respect for our laws by holding violators accountable, including human traffickers, employers who hire illegal aliens, and alien gang members who terrorize communities throughout the country."
H.R. 4437 will combat the hiring of illegal workers by providing all employers with a reliable method of determining whether employees are legally eligible to work. The provision is modeled on legislation (H.R. 19) introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) that makes mandatory an employment eligibility verification system currently voluntary.
This program confirms or denies the authenticity of Social Security numbers offered by new hires. This legislation requires that all employers within two years will begin checking any new hires against this database and begin checking all hires within six years. H.R. 4437 also increases civil and criminal penalties for knowingly hiring or employing an illegal worker.
H.R. 4437 also ends the "catch and release" policy whereby other than Mexicans (OTMs) caught illegally entering the U.S. are released into the U.S., never to be seen again. This legislation requires mandatory detention for all aliens apprehended at U.S. land borders attempting to enter illegally and use of the expedited removal process for many of those caught.
Other Highlights:
Increase Penalties for Alien Smuggling -- Under current law, individuals convicted of alien smuggling crimes often receive lenient sentences. These provisions would greatly increase criminal penalties for alien smuggling by establishing mandatory minimum sentences, among other things. These provisions were recommended by a panel of border-area U.S. Attorneys to make it easier to deport smugglers and illegal entrants.
Crackdown on Alien Gang Members -- This provision incorporates H.R. 2933, introduced by Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.). This provision would render alien street gang members inadmissible and deportable, and authorize the Attorney General to designate groups as criminal street gangs if they meet certain criteria. This provision also mandates the detention of alien street gang members and bars alien gang members from receiving humanitarian benefits.
Increase Penalties for Aliens Reentering Illegally -- Incorporates H.R. 3150, introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) that would stiffen penalties, including establishing mandatory minimum sentences, for aliens who reenter the United States after having been removed.
Aggravated Felony Provisions -- The provisions would make aggravated felons inadmissible and would bar refugees and asylees with aggravated felony convictions from receiving green cards.
Cooperation between Border Sheriffs and Federal Law Enforcement -- Based upon Rep. Culberson's (R-Tex.) "Border Law Enforcement Act of 2005" (H.R. 4360), authorizes and reimburses local sheriffs in the 29 counties along the southern border to enforce the immigration laws if authorized under a separate written agreement pursuant to section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and to transfer illegal aliens to federal custody. It also specifically reimburses those Sheriffs for costs associated with detaining illegal aliens whom they arrest until they are able to hand them over to federal authorities. This provision deems aliens in Sheriffs' custody to be in federal custody once determined to be in an unlawful status.
Increasing DHS Authority for Long-Term Detention -- The U.S. Supreme Court has limited DHS's ability to detain dangerous aliens with decisions that have forced hundreds of dangerous aliens, such as murderers, to be released into American communities. One alien released because of these Court decisions later shot a state trooper in the head. This change would amend the INA to allow for continued detention of aliens who pose a threat to Americans.
Renewing DHS Authority to Use Reinstatement of Removal Process -- In Morales-Izquierdo vs. Ashcroft, the Ninth Circuit recently invalidated DHS reinstatement of removal regulations, which allows DHS to remove an alien previously deported by simply reinstating the alien's prior order of removal. The House Judiciary Committee has been told that this procedure was used in some 90,000 cases last year, and the Ninth Circuit's decision affects 40 percent of removals in the Ninth Circuit. This amendment to the INA would clarify DHS's authority to reinstate orders.
Barring Terrorist Aliens from Naturalization -- This provision bars aliens who are terrorists or security risks from becoming U.S. citizens.
Deportation for DUI -- Render multiple DUI offenses a deportable offense for aliens.
For specific bill information, do a search at thomas.loc.gov
ping
I cannot imagine how someone can be in favor of ILLEGAL immigration. And the Democrats actually think they can take over the House in '06 with a position such as that?
But I am still waiting for Minetta to 'Arm Our Commercial and Cargo Pilots'...as he was told to do...or was he?
These slouches are famous for their high tone words and their foot draggin' unless its time to vote raises or pension perks.
imo
Looks like a good bill to me.
Hard to believe anybody running for office would ever want to go on record arguing against anything there.
Of course, Dems do things I find UFB every day.
I haven't found out how they voted, but here's a list of the committee members.
109th House Judiciary Committee
http://judiciary.house.gov/CommitteeMembership.aspx
Chairman: Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.(R) Wisconsin, 5th
Ranking Member: Hon. John Conyers, Jr. (D) Michigan, 14th
Republicans
The House Judiciary Committee today on a party-line 23-to-15 vote
Your list has 16 democrats, but the total has 15 nays. so there is a slight discrepency/error somewhere, but "party line vote" indicates all nays were dems.
Illegal immigration is ALREADY illegal! (Duh!) Because some legislature already passed laws against it.
Minetta! ARGH!
I can over look a headline error, and often do, except to poke fun at the wording (ala James Taranto). Space limitations and such make such shortening necessary. BUT, take a look at the article:
House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.) that prevents illegal immigration and takes needed steps
They compound the error and thus reinforce your point!
OK, I missed that part. If all the 23 votes were from Republicans, and since there are 16 democrats listed plus the ranking member (a Dem.) for a total of 17, I guess two Dems either abstained from voting or else they were absent.
So what are the chances this bill makes it?
Is it safe to assume that Bush will support it, if only for political reasons? Will he do his best to shoot it down? Any insight?
Does NOT do enough!
What happened to ALL illegal entry being a felony?
"Multiple DUI" becomes a deportable offense?
How about just being here illegally is a deportable offense!
We will have to watch this closely, it may indeed be a set-up for "amnesty" next year.
Actually, it appears the statement "Party line vote" is wrong. There are 22 R's vs. 16 D's so 23-15 seems to indicate one dem had a momentary bout of sanity, or he did not get the memo in time.
But there's also the chairman of the committee (a Republican) and the ranking committee member (a Democrat). They get to vote, don't they?
Assuming that they do, there is a total of 23 Repubs and 17 Dems.
Not yet. The Senate is allegedly working on the guest worker part of immigration reform and it's supposed to be attached to whatever the House finally passes. Just have to wait and see.
There are only 22 Republicans on the list. It looks like one Democrat crossed the line and voted with the Republicans.
PING
This might just be a feel good, look good step designed to get what they really want: an amnesty. The supposed plan is to merge this with an amnesty scheme from the Senate:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1534863/posts
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