Google Hangout: Immigration Reform
Siraj Hashmi spoke with expert Abigal Loesch, and University of Central Florida students Jenny Bautista and Chelsea Daley to discuss immigration reform.
By: GVH Live
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Google Hangout: Immigration Reform - Video
Advocates, DREAM Leaders & Legal Experts Discuss Immigration Developments in the Senate and Pending Court Decision on Texas Lawsuit Between the ongoing, intra-GOP debate over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding in Washington, DC and a looming court decision from Federal Judge Andrew Hanen in Texas on the Presidents executive actions, the immigration debate continues [] (02/06/15)
GOP Brand Plummets with One of the Fastest Growing American Voting Groups Media outlets are closely covering and criticizing Republicans continued failures to advance a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill loaded with measures to block President Obamas immigration executive actions. Beltway media outlets are highlightingRepublican in-fightingbetween the House and the Senate [] (02/06/15)
As we await a decision from Federal Judge Andrew Hanenon the Republican state legal challenge to PresidentsObamas immigrationactions, more andmore sensible voices continue toweigh in with their analysis ofthe law and policy. Yesterday David Leopold, former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), took to the pages of the Huffington Post to explain why [] (02/05/15)
For Third Time This Week, Senate Tries and Fails on DHS Bill Loaded Up With Anti-Immigrant Poison Pills Only Path Forward is a Clean Funding Bill ASAP Today, for the third time this week, Senate Republicans failed to advance a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill that includes House-passed riders to block President [] (02/05/15)
Today, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) sided with anti-immigration restrictionists in his Party byvoting to invoke cloture on a House-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding billthatincludesunnecessary, anti-immigrant riders and plays politics with the operations ofthis critical department. Instead of calling on his colleagues to responsibly commit the necessaryhomelandsecurity resources to the Department of Homeland [] (02/04/15)
Republicans Cant Get Over Obsession with Deporting DREAMers and their Families Today, for the second time in two days, Senate Republicans failed to invoke cloture on a House-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill that also guts President Obamasexecutive actions, ends the DACA program for DREAMers, and maximizes the deportation of immigrants firmly settled [] (02/04/15)
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Immigration Reform | Americas Voice
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 Legislative history Bill citation S. 1348 Bill published on May 9, 2007 Introduced by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 its full name was Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1348) was a bill discussed in the 110th United States Congress that would have provided legal status and a path to citizenship for the approximately 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the United States. The bill was portrayed as a compromise between providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and increased border enforcement: it included funding for 300 miles (480km) of vehicle barriers, 105 camera and radar towers, and 20,000 more Border Patrol agents, while simultaneously restructuring visa criteria around high-skilled workers. The bill also received heated criticism from both sides of the immigration debate. The bill was introduced in the United States Senate on May 9, 2007, but was never voted on, though a series of votes on amendments and cloture took place. The last vote on cloture, on June 7, 2007, 11:59 AM, failed 34-61 effectively ending the bill's chances. A related bill S. 1639, on June 28, 2007, 11:04 AM, also failed 46-53.
The bill was a compromise based largely on three previous failed immigration reform bills:
The bill's sole sponsor in the Senate was Majority Leader Harry Reid, though it was crafted in large part as a result of efforts by Senators Kennedy, McCain and Kyl, along with Senator Lindsey Graham, and input from President George W. Bush, who strongly supported the bill. For that reason it was referred to in the press by various combinations of these five men's names, most commonly "Kennedy-Kyl". A larger group of senators was involved in creating the bill, sometimes referred to as the 'Gang of 12'.[1] This group included, in addition to the aforementioned senators, Senators Dianne Feinstein, Mel Martinez, Ken Salazar and Arlen Specter. Senators Jim DeMint, Jeff Sessions, and David Vitter led the opposition to the bill.[2][3]
At the same time, the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007 was being considered in the United States House of Representatives, although to considerably less public attention.
On June 7, three Senate votes on cloture (a move to end discussion) for the bill failed with the first losing 33-63, the second losing 34-61 and the third losing 45-50.[4] This had been thought by some observers to signal the end of the bill's chances, since on that day, after the first failing vote, Harry Reid had told reporters that, if another vote on cloture failed, "the bill's over with. The bill's gone."[5]
However, at the urging of President Bush, the bill was brought back for discussion in the Senate as bill S. 1639 on June 25.[6] On June 26, a motion to proceed passed the Senate, by a margin of 64-35 (under Senate rules it needed 60 votes).[7] A number of amendments to the bill were considered and rejected. On June 28, the bill failed to get the 60 votes necessary to end debate. The final cloture vote lost 46-53.[8] This effectively ended its chances, and President Bush said he was disappointed at Congress's failure to act on the issue.[9]
S.1639 would have created a new class of visa, the "Z visa", that would be given to everyone who was living without a valid visa in the United States on Jan. 1, 2010; this visa would give its holder the legal right to remain in the United States for the rest of their lives, and access to a Social Security number. After eight years, the holder of a Z visa would be eligible for a United States Permanent Resident Card (a "green card") if they wanted to have one; they would first have to pay a $2000 fine, and back taxes for some of the period in which they worked. By the normal rules of green cards, five years after that the illegal immigrant could begin the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.
S.1639 would have required such an illegal immigrant to be in his or her home country when he or she applies for a green card.
S.1639 would have also ended family reunification, in which an immigrant who becomes a U.S. citizen can ease the process by which their relatives from outside the country can get green cards. Under the bill, only the spouse and children of a new citizen would be made eligible for green cards.[10]
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Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 - Wikipedia ...
WOBURN, MAOne of the hottest issues on the national political stage this year is immigration reform, and theres no shortage of media pundits from both ends of the spectrum to tell us what Congress should do. But separate from the media hype, immigration reform is a critical issue to commercial real estate and the apartment industry in particular. And its a top lobbying priority this year for the Washington, DC-based National Apartment Association in partnership with the National Multifamily Housing Council.
But immigration is just one of the critical issues the group is mounting, explains 2015 chairman Tom Beaton, who is also senior vice president of management of the locally based Dolben Co. Beaton sat down with GlobeSt.com recently to shed light on NAAs position on the issues and discuss the upcoming Lobby Day. (See sidebar on second page, and for more information, click here.)
GlobeSt.com: Why is there such an emphasis on member involvement in advocacy?
Beaton: Building, owning and managing apartments is complex work with a lot of moving parts and serving a wide variety of needs, whether it be what well call conventional housing or affordable housing or housing for military, students or seniors. This means that the public-policy decisions on tax, labor, the environment, energy, and many other issues will have an effect on our business. With so much at stake, we cant afford to be complacent, and we have to engage in the active education of Congress so they can make informed decisions. Weve made a lot of progress, but the education process is ongoing. Many of the members of Congress dont understand how our business works or the critical role it plays in local economies.
GlobeSt.com: In times of tax reform or economic down cycles, it always seems that Congress would be particularly tough on commercial real estate. How does the visibility and education that the industry achieves through its lobbying efforts counteract that?
Beaton: Its an accurate observation. In the past theyve looked to real estate to resolve so many issues. Today weve done a better job educating them on our industry, who we are and the great benefits we provide to the national economy. Namely, we house one-third of the people in this country; we provide jobs and enormous contributions to the local and national GDP. Its very important that they understand that.
GlobeSt.com: So what issues top the list for NAA and NMHC?
Beaton: There are many issues of concern to the apartment industry, such as immigration, affordable housing, the future of the GSEsGovernment Sponsored Enterprises such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mactax reform and energy efficiency and environmental regulation. These are just some of the issues. The two biggest are immigration and affordable housing.
GlobeSt.com: What is the apartment industry's stand on immigration reform?
Beaton: Immigration policy directly impacts the apartment industry. It drives demand for housing. Sixty-eight percent of the immigrants whove been in the United States for 10 years or less rent an apartment. Immigrants are also an important part of the labor force, and they contribute significantly to building and operating apartment communities throughout the country. Comprehensive immigration reform should provide for the following: strength in interior and border enforcement, an improved employment eligibility-verification system, a strong temporary visa program and a practical process for legalization.
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NAA Takes Industrys Case to Capitol Hill
Undocumented immigrants in the U.S. who are granted temporary deportation relief under President Barack Obamas executive action will be able to get federal tax credits and refunds they earned while working illegally, the New York Post reported.
Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen told the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday that newly authorized immigrants will be eligible to claim tax breaks and retroactive benefits dating back three years after receiving their Social Security numbers. The program allows you to file for earned income tax credits, the Post quoted Koskinen as saying. In terms of whether you can do that retroactively, the normal statutes of limitations would apply as to when you can file an amended return.
Koskinen said only qualified workers who had previously filed tax returns can claim earned income tax credits. Newly authorized workers who have not filed tax returns are ineligible for credits and refunds, the New York Post said.
A Republican committee member, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, said allowing qualified workers to collect retroactive benefits undermines congressional policy of not rewarding those for working illegally in the United States, according to the Post. Koskinen reportedly said he did not believe the IRS would revisit its interpretation of the earned income tax credit, which is the only tax program tangled in the immigration-reform debate.
The earned income tax credit puts tax refunds in the pockets of working individuals and families. The program is targeted at low- and moderate-income households, particularly those with children. However, Obama has proposed expanding access to the credit to more low-wage childless workers, according to the Detroit Free Press.
This tax season, the maximum credit is worth as much as $6,242 for those with three children earning no more than $53,267, according to the New York Post. Nearly 28 million people received $66 billion via the program last year, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Obama used his executive authority to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in November. The Congressional Budget Office estimated in January that between 2 million and 2.5 million people will have received approval to stay in the U.S. by 2017.
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Immigration Reform 2015: Immigrants To Collect Tax Benefits From Years Of Illegal Work