Department of Homeland Security Releases Illegally Present Immigrant Data to Congress

U.S. News & World Reports reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded to a November 4 subpoena demanding the names and identifying information of those who have been flagged by the immigration-status checking program Secure Communities yet not detained or placed in deportation hearings.  “I am pleased DHS has finally decided to work with the Committee and comply with the subpoena,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith said in a press release.  Smith and committee Republicans want the data so they can assess for themselves whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement was right to release the estimated 200,000 individuals pinged by Secure Communities but let go.  According to DHS, those estimated 200,000 people released may not all be illegally present immigrants since the DHS database can return information on legal residents and naturalized U.S. citizens as well, something that raised privacy concerns for Judiciary Committee Democrats.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/12/12/department-of-homeland-security-releases-illegal-immigrant-data-to-congress

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Senators Unveil New Irish Visa Bills

The Irish Voice reports that New York Senator Charles Schumer introduced an immigration bill to the Senate which will potentially permit 10,000 Irish citizens, per year, to live and work in the U.S. on a new E-3 non-immigrant visa.  The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011 would allow undocumented Irish to apply for an existing waiver of inadmissibility which exists under the current E-3 law for Australians.  The bill is modeled on the Australian E-3 visa program which allows up to 10,000 Australian citizens and their spouses to immigrate to the U.S. once they secure a job offer.  Under the current program citizens availing of the visa must be performing services in a specialty occupation and hold the minimum attainment of a bachelor’s degree.

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Senator-Charles-Schumer-unveils-new-Irish-visa-bill-135569518.html?page=2

The Republican reports that in an attempt to ease the efforts of Irish citizens seeking specialty work in the U.S., Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) have introduced a narrowly-focused bill.  The Irish Immigration Reform and Encouragement Act of 2011, which is an alternate version of a large bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), adds the Republic of Ireland to the E-3 visa program, allowing more than 10,000 employment visas that can be renewed an unlimited number of times.  According to Sen. Brown’s office, the bill recognizes the damage done to Irish immigration prospects in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and therefore adds the Republic of Ireland into the E-3 visa program.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/12/sen_scott_brown_pushes_for_iri.html

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Lautenberg Amendment Extended

Immigration Impact reports that an extension of the Lautenberg Amendment was included in the fiscal year 2012 spending bill the President signed before the holidays.  The Lautenberg Amendment, originally enacted as part of the 1990 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, established a presumption of eligibility for refugee status for certain categories of people from Southeast Asia, as well as religious minorities from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) seeking to resettle as refugees in the United States.  Today, the Lautenberg Amendment serves primarily to facilitate the resettlement of Jews, Christians, Baha’is, and other religious minorities fleeing Iran though it continues to cover religious minorities from the FSU.  Strong bi-partisan support and a wide array of religious groups helped extend the amendment.

http://immigrationimpact.com/2012/01/04/celebrating-a-legislative-victory-for-refugees-and-religious-freedom/

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Advocate for Hispanics to Join President’s Top Aides

The Wall Street Journal reports that the White House named Cecilia Muñoz, the president’s point person on immigration and outreach to the Hispanic community, as director of the Domestic Policy Council.  Ms. Muñoz is currently the director of intergovernmental affairs, serving as a liaison between the White House and mayors, governors, and other officials.  In her new role, she’ll oversee policy making on a wide range of domestic issues including education, energy and health care in addition to managing immigration policy.  Before coming to the White House, Ms. Muñoz was a senior vice president at the National Council of La Raza, the nation’s largest Latino advocacy group.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204124204577152782271234916.html

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