This week Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, introduced the Removal of Terrorist Criminal Aliens Act of 2003 (H.R. 3106), which expands the criminal offenses that trigger expedited deportation of terrorists. The new offenses include possession of controlled substances, firearms offenses, espionage, sabotage, treason, threats against the President, violations of the Trading With the Enemy Act, draft evasion, and certain alien smuggling crimes. The Act also expands the list of destinations where an alien can be deported, currently limited to the country of origin or the country of citizenship. According to a news release on the legislation, the Act also “authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to remove from the United States those individuals they have reason to believe pose a danger to national security.”

*****

The following bills were recently introduced in Congress:

H.R. 3106: To strengthen the law enabling the United States to expeditiously remove terrorist criminals, to add flexibility with respect to the places to which aliens may be removed, to give sufficient authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to remove aliens who pose a danger to national security, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] (introduced 9/17/2003)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R. 3110: To specify locations where certain citizens and nationals of Mexico may be removed from the United States into Mexico.

Sponsor: Rep Bonilla, Henry [TX-23] (introduced 9/17/2003)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R. 3115: To prevent a State or unit of local government from using Federal funds to assist prosecutors unless the State or unit provides information to the Department of Homeland Security on individuals convicted of crimes for use by the Department in identifying immigration violations by such individuals, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13] (introduced 9/17/2003)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R. 3123: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exempt certain elderly persons from demonstrating an understanding of the English language and the history, principles, and form of government of the United States as a requirement for naturalization, and to permit certain other elderly persons to take the history and government examination in a language of their choice.

Sponsor: Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] (introduced 9/17/2003)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R. 3136: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce the annual income level at which a person petitioning for a family-sponsored immigrant's admission must agree to provide support in a case where a United States employer has agreed to employ the immigrant for a period of not less than one year after admission or where the sponsored alien is under the age of 18.

Sponsor: Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] (introduced 9/17/2003)

Committees: House Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2003 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 1635: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to ensure the integrity of the L-1 visa for intracompany transferees.

Sponsor: Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] (introduced 9/17/2003)

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 1628: A bill to prescribe the oath of renunciation and allegiance for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Sponsor: Sen Alexander, Lamar [TN] (introduced 9/17/2003)

Committees: Senate Judiciary

Latest Major Action: 9/17/2003 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

For a review of all the immigration bills introduced this year, visit our legislative chart at www.visalaw.com/advocacy.html.