Greg Siskind on Immigration Law and Policy

FOUR IMMIGRATION BILLS SET TO ADVANCE ON WEDNESDAY

The House Judiciary Committee is set to markup four immigration bills on Wednesday. None of the bills are particularly controversial, though movement on the measures is seen as important because if the bills advance, they would be the first pro-immigration ones to pass since the Democrats took control of Congress 15 months ago.

The bills to watch are the following:

HR 5570, The "Religious Worker Visa Extension Act of 2008";

HR 5060, a bill to allow athletes admitted in the P-1 category to renew their visas beyond the current ten year limit;

HR 5569, a bill extending for five years the EB-5 regional center pilot program; and

HR 5571, to extend the Conrad 30 J-1 physician waiver program for five more years.

THE YIN AND YANG OF IMMIGRATION

Ruben Navarrette, Jr. always has something interesting to say about immigration and in a piece he's written for CNN, he's highlighted the contradiction in American's attitudes toward illegal immigration - we are against illegal immigration except to the extent we are not. Some of the places that are pushing the harshest anti-immigration laws seem to have the greatest dependence on those workers and their politicians are the most vocal in opposing any legislation to legalize the workers already here or push through a guest worker program.

HOW ILLEGALLY PRESENT IMMIGRANTS HELP BOTH THE ELDERLY AND THE YOUNG

Don't let the article's title fool you. The writer ultimately finds that the immigrants help both groups and not just one. The elderly are helped because many of the immigrants - particularly illegally present immigrants - will never collect Social Security benefits despite paying billions of dollars in to the system. The young are helped because competition for jobs at lower skill levels has led to more young people staying in skill and improving the education and skill set, something that benefits them (and the country) in the long run. That's not to say that we should be content that we have illegally present immigrants. The issue divides the country and we need to put it behind us by putting this huge population in a legal status, devoting resources to firmly enforce immigration laws and stop the flow of illegal migration and, most importantly, establish a real guest worker program and a better functioning green card system so that we don't just find ourselves in the same place in ten or fifteen years.

NY TIMES AND WASHINGTON POST COVER HORSLEY ENTRY DENIAL

Two of America's leading papers are covering the entry denial of British author Sebastian Horsley. The Post has an editorial taking CBP to task for what they call using "torpid judgment" in denying entry to someone who poses no danger to the American public.

The Times article is more of a profile piece and gets Horsley's reaction to his immigration problems.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMEN WARN ON EXPANDING E-VERIFY RIGHT NOW

Representatives Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and Michael McNulty (D-NY) have sent a "Dear Colleague" letter warning members of Congress not to sign the Republican discharge petition that would bring the Shuler immigration enforcement bill to the House floor for a vote. The letter lays out the case against E-Verify being mandated right now. Of course, states seem to be rushing in to require employers to use the system. But the letter at least serves as a warning that E-Verify is not the uncomplicated solutions its proponents like to claim.

Download mcnulty_rangel_32708.pdf

RHODE ISLAND LATEST STATE TO GET EMPLOYER SANCTIONS RULES

This time it's via an Executive Order from Governor Donald Carcieri. The order mandates that all new state employees be checked in E-Verify and that all business contracting with the state (as well as their subcontractors) use E-Verify.   The order also mandates that the Rhode Island State Police enter in to a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Download rhode_island_immigration_exec_order_0801.pdf

DRIVING WHILE LATINO

This is not exactly news, but it does serve as a reminder of the risks we take as a society when we make local police immigration agents.

BREAKING NEWS: SHULER CLAIMS MCCAIN KILLED ENFORCEMENT BILL

In the first sign that John McCain is trying to get the immigration hardliners in the GOP under control, Democratic Congressman Heath Shuler, the sponsor of a tough immigration bill that was being promoted heavily by GOP House members, claims the GOP presidential nominee has called in his chits to block the bill from being heard on the House floor. McCain's folks are denying they have done any such thing.

OKLAHOMANS ASK "WHAT HAVE WE DONE?"

Economists discuss a new study showing HB 1804, one of the nation's toughest anti-immigration laws could cost Oklahomans $3 billion per year. Ouch!
Download hb_1804_study.pdf

RELIGIOUS RIGHT LEADER APOLOGIZES OVER GAY IMMIGRATION RIGHTS REMARK

As Congress gets closer to considering the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), some of the critics of the bill are getting nasty. The bill would allow gay couples to sponsor partners to immigrate as immediate relatives, just as married straight couples can. Sponsored by Jerry Nadler (D-NY) in the House and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the UAFA has been introduced several times over the last few years, but has not moved very far up the legislative ladder. But as more and more states are recognizing same sex marriages and civil unions and public recognition of the rights of same sex couples increases, the chances of UAFA's passage are improving.

A story on UAFA by a student journalist at the esteemed Northwestern University School of Journalism has created a stir because of an inflammatory statement made by Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council in his interview with reporter Sirena Rubinoff. Sprigg told Rubinoff

I would much prefer to export homosexuals from the United States than to import them into the United States because we believe homosexuality is destructive to society.

The story was picked up on the blog of the The Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan who linked to the blog of Chris Crain, a prominent DC journalist (who, incidentally, was a friend of mine in college).

Rachel Tiven, the director of Immigration Equality, a national human rights group advocating for same sex couple immigration rights, issued the following statement after Crain reported on the statement:

Unfortunately, the Family Research Council's preference to export lesbian, gay, bisexual and trangender (LGBT) Americans prevails. This policy continues to separate people who love each other, but of course Mr. Sprigg's group doesn't care about that. 

I hope, however, that the Family Research Council realizes that when we 'export homosexuals' we also export talented men and women who have made incredible contributions to this country and its economy - THAT is 'destructive to society'.   LGBT Americans who are forced into exile from this country are researchers for companies like GE and Pfizer, nurses in the Midwest, teachers in our inner cities and sons and daughters of aging parents who depend on them for care.

The Family Research Council might not care about our families but current immigration laws are 'destructive' to America and I hope that is something they do care about. 

Sullivan reports that Sprigg has now issued an apology over the export remark, though he re-stated FRC's opposition to the bill.

I've endorsed this bill several times in the past and urge Congress to ensure that America joins the 19 other highly developed countries which have passed similar legislation.