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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The House of Representatives has approved H.R. 3767, which would make the Visa Waiver Pilot Program permanent.  The Visa Waiver Pilot Program allows nationals of a number of countries to come to the US without having to get a visitor visa stamp from a US consulate. The countries eligible to participate in the program must have low rates of overstaying by their nationals coming to the US. 
S. 2367, the Travel, Tourism, and Jobs Preservation Act, introduced by Senators Spenser Abraham (R-MI), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-VY), Mike DeWine (R-OH), James Jeffords (R-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Bob Graham (D-FL) and Daniel Inouye (D-HI), would make the Visa Waiver Pilot Program permanent.  For the most part, the bill mirrors the House bill introduced for the same purpose.  However, it gives countries more time to meet the machine readable passport requirement, does not allow for the emergency rescission of a country's status, and does not call for an automated entry-exit system. 
With all of the attention surrounding the Elian Gonzalez case, it is refreshing to see that at least one Senator is trying to make changes in the law that will benefit all immigrant children. S. 2383, the Alien Child Protection Act of 2000, introduced by Senator Bob Graham, would make some significant changes in the treatment of alien juveniles.  First it calls for changes in the detention of alien juveniles.  No longer could they be detained in adult facilities or facilities designed to house delinquents.  They would have to be kept in facilities that are appropriate for children.  More importantly, the bill would allow the Attorney General to adjust the status of juvenile who is in the US without authorization.  There are two ways to qualify for adjustment.  Under the first, the child or someone acting on his behalf must have filed an application for adjustment and the child must have been in the US for five years.  Under the second method, if no parent has requested the child's return, or if the Attorney General determines that returning the child would subject them to mental or physical abuse, and also determines that it is in the child's best interests to remain in the US even if they do not qualify for asylum.  
S. 2406, the Mother Teresa Religious Workers Act, introduced by Senator Spenser Abraham (R-MI), would amend the special immigrant religious worker program to eliminate the sunset of the program.  
S. 2407, introduced by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), would create a rolling registry program, allowing people who have been in the US for 15 years to register their status as permanent resident. More about this later in this issue...