Posted on 10/01/2003 12:18:36 AM PDT by CIBvet
House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill to Extend and Expand the Basic Pilot Employment Verification Program
The House Judiciary Committee voted on Wednesday to extend and expand a pilot program to help employers avoid hiring illegal aliens. The bill, H.R. 2359, by Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA), would extend the program through 2008. It was set to expire Nov. 30. The measure was approved 18-8, with Steve Chabot (R-OH) voting with committee Democrats against the bill.
Immigration Subcommittee Chairman John Hostettler (R-IN) succeeded in amending the bill to expand the voluntary program from five states to nationwide.
The Basic Pilot Verification Program was created by a 1996 law to help companies comply with U.S. laws that bar them from knowingly hiring illegal aliens. Employers participating in the free program receive computer software that allows them to access federal databases to screen all new hires to determine if they are eligible to work.
FAIR supports mandatory, nationwide implementation of the program. For more information, please read our issue brief.
U.S. Treasury Department Gives Green Light to Unregulated Acceptance of Foreign Identification Documents
On September 25, the U.S. Treasury Department gave banks the green light to unregulated acceptance of foreign identification documents, such as the highly controversial and easily counterfeited Mexican matricula consular card. In an unprecedented move, Treasury had reopened the public comment period for regulations it had already finalized in May allowing banks to accept foreign government-issued consular cards. Unfortunately, after reviewing more than 34,000 comments, Treasury recommended no changes to the rules. Treasury rejected the idea of developing an official blacklist of foreign documents that financial institutions could not accept when opening new accounts for non-U.S. citizens. Treasury also rejected recommendations to require financial institutions to retain photocopies of identification documents used to verify customers’ identities.
Lawmakers Introduce Companion Farm Worker Amnesty Legislation
On September 23, Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Representatives Chris Cannon (R-UT) and Howard Berman (D-CA) introduced companion farm worker amnesty bills S.1645 and H.R. 3142. “The Agricultural Job, Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2003” (AgJOBS) provides an amnesty for illegal aliens engaged in farm work and their spouses and children. The bill also expands the H-2A agricultural guestworker program. A broad coalition consisting of labor unions, agribusiness, the hospitality industry, the immigration law bar, and the usual supporters among open borders and illegal alien advocacy groups have aligned themselves in support of the legislation.
FAIR opposes this legislation and all other attempts to reward illegal aliens with amnesty. Please read our action alert
to learn how you can help defeat this pro-illegal alien legislation.
Entry-Exit Tracking System Faces Criticism
The congressionally mandated entry-exit tracking system, U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology system (U.S. VISIT) appears to be in trouble. This is alarming because one of the keys to identifying potential terrorists, criminal aliens, and visa violators will be the effective operation of an entry-exit tracking system. On September 23, the General Accounting Office released a scathing report citing several factors making the U.S. VISIT program “a risky endeavor.” These factors were attributed to poor management and include the potential cost, the low current staffing level, and the fact that the system’s final structure remains unclear. GAO recommended that DHS establish a multi-agency body to guide and direct the program.
Congressional support for U.S. VISIT also appears to be waning. The 2004 Homeland Security appropriations bill (H.R. 2555) approved by Congress includes only $330 million for U.S. VISIT, a full 31 percent less than the $480 million President Bush requested. Appropriators based the funding reduction on the fact that DHS has been slow to provide congressionally mandated spending plans and other information on the program, as well as more details on how the program will work.
Last Week’s Floor Statements
September 23:
• Representative Charlie Norwood (R-GA) presented statements in support of his legislation, H.R. 2671, the “Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003.”
• Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) presented statements in support of his illegal alien farm worker amnesty legislation, S. 1645.
September 24:
• Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) made comments on “Our Nation’s Immigration.”
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, September 30:
• The Senate Immigration Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine visa security. Witnesses include Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border security and transportation security, Homeland Security Department; and Maura Harty, assistant secretary for consular affairs, State Department. When: 2 p.m. Where: 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202-224-5225
Wednesday, October 1:
• The House Select Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing on “Identification Documents Fraud and the Implications for Homeland Security.” When: 1 p.m. Where: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact: 202-225-9600.
• The House Immigration Subcommittee will hold a hearing on immigration law enforcement and H.R. 2671, the “Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal Act of 2003.” When: 4 p.m. Where: 2237 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact: 202-225-3951.
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