California State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-San Jose) introduced a resolution urging Congress and President Bush to adopt a federal bill, the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA), which would allow US citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their same-sex partners for immigration.

*****

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has announced that he is receptive to the idea to use state and local police to help enforce US immigration laws.  At a Senate hearing on the Department’s budget, several senators brought up the issue of additional resources for immigration enforcement in order to implement President Bush’s temporary guest worker proposal.

Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) suggested that using state and local law enforcement to support immigration officials would be more cost effective than hiring additional immigration officers.

The CLEAR Act in the House and the Homeland Security Enhancement Act in the Senate propose to give state and local law enforcement the power to investigate, apprehend and remove non-citizens who are illegally in the US.  The CLEAR Act, with 115 sponsors, is currently before a judiciary subcommittee.   The Homeland Security Enhancement Act, with 3 sponsors, is awaiting a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

*****

On February 12, USCIS Director Eduardo Aguirre testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship on the proposed temporary worker programs.  Aguirre presented five points for congressional consideration that complement the President’s proposal.

An immigration proposal must emphasize enforcement, American workers must come first, incentives for registration and return to the home country are required, the program should no be at the expense of legal immigrants and the program should be simple be able to be effectively administered.

*****

For a review of all the immigration bills that have been recently introduced, visit our legislative chart at www.visalaw.com/advocacy.html.