Brash Congressman won’t lead immigration panel

The Associated Press reports that House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) named Rep. Elton Gallegy (R-CA) as the next chairman of the subcommittee on immigration.  This move came as a surprise to many who expected the position to be filled by Rep. Steve King (R-IA), the top ranking Republican on the subcommittee in the last Congress.

King has been an outspoken critic of birthright citizenship and introduced a bill that would deny automatic citizenship to U.S.-born children of immigrants.  He also once suggested on the House floor that an electrified fence could be put on the border to curb immigration.  Gallegy is considered by immigration policy observers to be quieter than King on his immigration views, but still favors tough immigration laws and was given an ‘A’ rating by Numbers USA, an organization which lobbies to restrict immigration into the U.S.

The Associated Press
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Reid: Taxes, spending, and immigration reform top Senate agenda

The Hill reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid listed comprehensive immigration reform atop his agenda for the 112^th Congress.  He hopes to find common ground with Republicans, some of whom have expressed interest in initiating reform.  Senator Reid tried to pass the DREAM Act during the last Congress but failed when a Republican-led filibuster prevented the Senate from debating the legislation.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/138759-reid-tax-spending-and-immigration-reform-top-senates-agenda

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Republicans want a return to workplace immigration raids

The Los Angeles Times reports that Republicans will try to use their majority in the House to press for tougher enforcement of immigration laws and are calling for a renewal of workplace raids to arrest illegally present immigrants.  The Obama administration has focused on deporting only those charged with serious crimes and shifted enforcement efforts against employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers.  Since 2008, arrests from worksite-raids have dropped by 70%, but there was a 70% increase in the forced removal of immigrants with criminal records.  In addition, businesses were fined nearly $7 million in 2010, compared to only $675,000 in 2008.  

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immigration-raids-20110127,0,578382.story

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Sens. Paul, Vitter introduce citizenship resolution

The Hill reports that Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) are introducing legislation that would alter the 14^th amendment of the constitution to end the right to citizenship that comes with being born on U.S. soil.  The resolution would grant American citizenship to a person born in the United States only if one or more of his or her parents is a legal citizen, legal immigrant, or member of the armed forces.  Senator Vitter argued that his legislation would not prevent illegally present immigrants from gaining citizenship but instead would ‘ensure that they have to go through the same process as anyone else who wants to become an American citizen.’  Similar legislation to end birthright citizenship failed to pass in the 111^th Congress.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/140723-sens-paul-and-vitter-introduce-citizenship-resolution

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President urges passage of contentious immigration bill

The Hill reports that President Obama urged Congress to approve the DREAM Act during the State of the Union address.  Obama noted that many students are excelling in American schools and ‘some are the children of undocumented workers, who had nothing to do with the actions of their parents.  They grew up as Americans and pledge allegiance to our flag, and yet live every day with the threat of deportation.’  The DREAM Act failed in the 111^th Congress, but Obama has made immigration a top priority, calling for a bipartisan effort to address comprehensive immigration reform once and for all.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/140235-obama-urges-passage-of-dream-act-in-sotu

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