The Washington Post reports that the Hazelton, PA City Council approved an immigration ordinance that will punish businesses that employ illegal immigrants and landlords who rent to them.  Under this ordinance, Hazleton must give opponents to the law a minimum of 20 days notice before enforcement, which would be enough time to head back into court to try to stop it.  So far, lawsuits have been filed against the city by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union.  

Additionally, the council members also voted unanimously to make English the official language of the city.  The revised version passed 4-1.  

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Senators Sam Brownback and Joe Lieberman have introduced in the Senate an amendment that, according to AILA, would "provide important and needed protections for asylum seekers and help to insure and effective and human system of immigration detention."   

The amendment takes its cue from a US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) report that found that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors often fail to follow procedures designed to ensure arriving aliens can express a fear of prosecution.  The proposed amendment aims to provide protections by ensuring prompt initial custody determinations, full implementation and enforcement of detention standards, and reasonable alternatives to detention for eligible individuals.  

The amendment will also establish an Office of Detention Oversight within DHS to conduct inspections of detention facilities and investigations, and report to ICE its findings of a detention’s facilities noncompliance with standards.  The newly formed Office would report annually to Congress on their findings and actions taken to remedy problems.  

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H.RES.1002 : Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6061) to establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States .
Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 9/13/2006)      
Committees: House Rules
House Reports: 109-653
Latest Major Action: 9/14/2006 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

H.R.4844 : To amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require each individual who desires to vote in an election for Federal office to provide the appropriate election official with a government-issued photo identification, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Hyde, Henry J. [IL-6] (introduced 3/2/2006)      
Committees: House Administration
House Reports: 109-666
Latest Major Action: 9/21/2006 Received in the Senate.  

H.R.5628 : To provide for an initial period of admission of 36 months for aliens employed as dairy workers.
Sponsor: Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] (introduced 6/15/2006)      
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 6/15/2006 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.  

H.R.5806 : To make grants to carry out activities to prevent teen pregnancy in racial or ethnic minority or immigrant communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] (introduced 7/13/2006)      
Committees: House Energy and Commerce
Latest Major Action: 8/1/2006 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.  

H.R.6082 : To designate Lebanon under section 244(b) of the Immigration and Naturalization Act to permit nationals of Lebanon to be granted temporary protected status in the United States .
Sponsor: Rep LaHood, Ray [IL-18] (introduced 9/14/2006)      
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 9/14/2006 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.  

S.2611 : A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/7/2006)      
Latest Major Action: 5/25/2006 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay Vote. 62 - 36. Record Vote Number: 157.