Posted on 04/12/2002 8:07:18 AM PDT by gubamyster
Immigration legislation put on hold Measure would have allowed foreigners to stay in U.S. while applying for residency By Julia Malone
WASHINGTON BUREAU
Thursday, April 11, 2002
WASHINGTON -- An immigration measure to ease legalization for as many as 300,000 foreign residents that once seemed on track has been put on indefinite hold in the Senate, its supporters and opponents say.
The provision would have allowed spouses of Americans and some other illegal immigrants to remain in the United States while they apply for permanent residency green cards.
Under current law, foreigners must return to their home countries and wait for visas -- a wait that could last years.
The turnaround comes after public objections to what had been a quiet effort by the Republican House leadership to attach a provision to the popular border security bill, which had passed late last year on a unanimous vote. It mandates better tracking of foreign visitors.
The exception, which had squeaked through the House last month after heavy pressure from President Bush, triggered protest calls and e-mails to congressional offices. Critics and radio talk-show hosts called the provision, known officially as Section 245i of the Immigration Law, a "stealth amnesty" for illegal aliens.
Next week, as the Senate prepares to take up the border security bill, it will not consider the 245i language. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., chief sponsor of the border bill, has decided to drop the provision to speed up passage, said his spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter.
Pro-immigrant groups said they do not know when Congress will again take up the legalization effort.
"Obviously they've been focused on the border security bill" more than 245i, said Angela Kelley, an official with the National Immigration Forum.
"I don't think there's any question that grass-roots mobilization has been a factor," said Rosemary Jenks, a lobbyist for NumbersUSA, a nonpartisan group that favors a reduction in immigration.
The constituent pressure also was cited by a spokeswoman for Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., who led the opposition to 245i in the House and came within one vote of defeating it.
"Our office was inundated with phone calls and e-mails in the days after" the vote, said Tancredo's aide, Lara Kennedy. "Especially in our district office, you couldn't get through on the phone lines."
Then the measure reached the Senate, where it ran into the opposition of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, the senior Democrat and master of parliamentary delay tactics. Byrd, who was already slowing down action on the overall border bill, announced he would use his considerable powers to block the 245i legalization provision.
Kennedy, who has been trying to pass the border-tightening measure since December, has called a hearing of the Judiciary Committee on Friday to allow Byrd to air his concerns about border security. But as of now, legalization is off the Senate's agenda.
Byrd did not block 245(i). The House version of the Border Security bill passed in December, and did not include 245(i) until March. Byrd has been blocking the passage of this bill for almost 3 months before 245(i) was attached. He blocked the bill, because he is pissed at Bush, for not allowing him to attach 20 million dollars to some terrorist bill back in November.
The original House version of the bill is on the Senate floor as we speak.
Bush MUST be held accountable for being for amnesty for illegal aliens; he must pay the political price.
4/12/02 - 2 PM PDT
NumbersUSA Website
We just received word that the Bush Administration is pushing for a 245(i) amendment to the Visa Tracking bill, H.R. 3525 when the Senate resumes business on Monday.
One of the Nebraska Senators (Brownback or Hagel) is expected to sponsor the 245(i)extension amendment on behalf of the White House. A vote could be scheduled for Tuesday.
We suggest two actions in response to this bad news:
1. Call the White House switchboard (202) 456-1414. Tell the administration to stop pushing for the 245(i) amnesty in the Senate. (Many of you expressed difficulty in reaching a live person but please keep trying).
2. Call your Senators. Even if you called them in the last few days in support of the Visa Tracking bill. Please follow up and tell them to oppose any 245(i) amnesty amendment. Again, you will probably know about this proposed amendment before many staff members.
There is no chance of changing the minds of Hagel and Brownback so we don't suggest contacting them at this time unless you are their constituent.
Thank you for your assistance in this latest amnesty attempt by the administration. We'll send you a more detailed update over the weekend.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
I will act...
I will act...
I will too!
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