Der Alte
03-31-2003, 07:58 PM
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Legislative Update
March 31, 2003
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Holds Hearing to Push for Widespread Acceptance of Mexican Matricula Consular
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus held a hearing last Tuesday to discuss the role of the Matricula Consular ID card. Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Grace Flores Napolitano (D-CA), and Hilda Solis (D-C) attended.
Testimony was limited to pro-Matricula Consular witnesses who pushed for widespread acceptance of the card as identification for illegal aliens. Gutierrez urged Caucus members to lobby other elected officials to build support for the Matricula Consular and discourage members from cosponsoring Rep. Tancredo's (R-CO) bill to limit the acceptance of the Matricula Consular (H.R. 502).
Gutierrez concluded the hearing by calling for amnesty for the 8 to 11 million people living illegally in the United States and stressed that the Matricula Consular should only be considered a short-term solution.
War-Time Immigration Policies
In response to the war in Iraq, Attorney General John Ashcroft has established the following war-time immigration policies:
FBI Granted Powers to Arrest People for Immigration Violations
The FBI has dispatched 5,000 agents to assist immigration officials in locating and arresting several thousand Iraqis who entered the United States on valid visas that have since expired.
Detention of Asylum Seekers
The Department of Homeland Security now requires that all asylum seekers from 33 countries with known ties to terrorism be detained while the government considers their claims of political persecution. The countries on the list are nations where al Qaeda, al Qaeda sympathizers, and other terrorist groups are known to have operated.
MD House Approves Bill to Give Illegal Aliens Driver's Licenses, Senate Action Expected
Last week, the Maryland House passed H.B. 838, legislation that would permit illegal aliens to get Maryland driver's licenses. The Maryland Senate is expected to vote on H.B. 838 as early as this week. If you live in Maryland and oppose giving Maryland driver's licenses to people who have broken our immigration laws, please contact your State Senator and urge him or her to oppose H.B. 838. Follow this link to FAIR's Maryland action alert for talking points against the bill and help contacting your State Senator.
Push for Illegal Alien Student Amnesty Continues
AILA Lobbies for In-State Tuition Benefits and Amnesty for Illegal Alien Students
Our Capital Hill sources report that last week the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) held a Lobby Day event to urge members of Congress to adopt legislation that would reward illegal alien students with in-state tuition college benefits and legal permanent resident status.
Daschle Legislation Contains Provisions to Give Illegal Alien High School Graduates Amnesty and In-State Tuition
Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) introduced legislation earlier this year that contains provisions deep within the bill that would reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty. Under S.8, the Educational Excellence for All Learners Act of 2003, illegal alien high school graduates who have lived in the United States for at least five years would be eligible for adjustment to permanent resident status (amnesty). The bill also contains a section that would preserve the rights of states to determine residency for the purpose of determining college benefits. Please visit the Key Bills section of our website to send a message to Congress about this bill.
Obey Proposes Adding $500 Million to FY03 Wartime Supplemental to Beef Up Border Security
House Appropriations Ranking Member David Obey (D-WI) proposed adding $5.5 billion to the FY2003 wartime supplemental bill for specific homeland security functions - including an additional $500 million for border security staffing.
Upcoming Events:
On April 3, the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing on FY2004 appropriations for border protection, customs, and immigration enforcement. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. in room H-140 of the U.S. Capitol.
FAIR Press Release:
3/23/03 - Chicago Fed Prepares "Study" to Reach Predetermined Conclusions on Immigration
Please forward this message to interested friends, acquaintances, and email lists. For current immigration news, please visit the SteinReport. You can visit our website at FAIR or go to the Legislative Action Center to find your representatives and local media contact information. For other information, call FAIR's legislative department at (202) 328-7004.
I'm sure some of this is bound to get your attention. Some of them just don't want to give up.
http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif
Legislative Update
March 31, 2003
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Holds Hearing to Push for Widespread Acceptance of Mexican Matricula Consular
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus held a hearing last Tuesday to discuss the role of the Matricula Consular ID card. Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Grace Flores Napolitano (D-CA), and Hilda Solis (D-C) attended.
Testimony was limited to pro-Matricula Consular witnesses who pushed for widespread acceptance of the card as identification for illegal aliens. Gutierrez urged Caucus members to lobby other elected officials to build support for the Matricula Consular and discourage members from cosponsoring Rep. Tancredo's (R-CO) bill to limit the acceptance of the Matricula Consular (H.R. 502).
Gutierrez concluded the hearing by calling for amnesty for the 8 to 11 million people living illegally in the United States and stressed that the Matricula Consular should only be considered a short-term solution.
War-Time Immigration Policies
In response to the war in Iraq, Attorney General John Ashcroft has established the following war-time immigration policies:
FBI Granted Powers to Arrest People for Immigration Violations
The FBI has dispatched 5,000 agents to assist immigration officials in locating and arresting several thousand Iraqis who entered the United States on valid visas that have since expired.
Detention of Asylum Seekers
The Department of Homeland Security now requires that all asylum seekers from 33 countries with known ties to terrorism be detained while the government considers their claims of political persecution. The countries on the list are nations where al Qaeda, al Qaeda sympathizers, and other terrorist groups are known to have operated.
MD House Approves Bill to Give Illegal Aliens Driver's Licenses, Senate Action Expected
Last week, the Maryland House passed H.B. 838, legislation that would permit illegal aliens to get Maryland driver's licenses. The Maryland Senate is expected to vote on H.B. 838 as early as this week. If you live in Maryland and oppose giving Maryland driver's licenses to people who have broken our immigration laws, please contact your State Senator and urge him or her to oppose H.B. 838. Follow this link to FAIR's Maryland action alert for talking points against the bill and help contacting your State Senator.
Push for Illegal Alien Student Amnesty Continues
AILA Lobbies for In-State Tuition Benefits and Amnesty for Illegal Alien Students
Our Capital Hill sources report that last week the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) held a Lobby Day event to urge members of Congress to adopt legislation that would reward illegal alien students with in-state tuition college benefits and legal permanent resident status.
Daschle Legislation Contains Provisions to Give Illegal Alien High School Graduates Amnesty and In-State Tuition
Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) introduced legislation earlier this year that contains provisions deep within the bill that would reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty. Under S.8, the Educational Excellence for All Learners Act of 2003, illegal alien high school graduates who have lived in the United States for at least five years would be eligible for adjustment to permanent resident status (amnesty). The bill also contains a section that would preserve the rights of states to determine residency for the purpose of determining college benefits. Please visit the Key Bills section of our website to send a message to Congress about this bill.
Obey Proposes Adding $500 Million to FY03 Wartime Supplemental to Beef Up Border Security
House Appropriations Ranking Member David Obey (D-WI) proposed adding $5.5 billion to the FY2003 wartime supplemental bill for specific homeland security functions - including an additional $500 million for border security staffing.
Upcoming Events:
On April 3, the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing on FY2004 appropriations for border protection, customs, and immigration enforcement. The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. in room H-140 of the U.S. Capitol.
FAIR Press Release:
3/23/03 - Chicago Fed Prepares "Study" to Reach Predetermined Conclusions on Immigration
Please forward this message to interested friends, acquaintances, and email lists. For current immigration news, please visit the SteinReport. You can visit our website at FAIR or go to the Legislative Action Center to find your representatives and local media contact information. For other information, call FAIR's legislative department at (202) 328-7004.
I'm sure some of this is bound to get your attention. Some of them just don't want to give up.
http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif