LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Since our last issue, there has been little movement on final passage of the 1996 immigration overhaul bill. When last we left off, the bill had passed each house of Congress and was in a conference committee where a compromise version was to be written and reported back to each house of Congress for a final vote. After that, the President would sign or veto the bill.

Well, the bill remains in the conference committee and the final list of members of the conference committee still has not been determined. We do know the Senate members. They are Senators Hatch, Simpson, Thurmond, Grassley, Kyl, Specter, Kennedy, Simon, Feinstein, Kohn, and Leahy. House members have not been determined, but are expected to include Representatives Hyde, Smith, McCollum, Gallegly, Goodlatte, Canady, Bono, Goodling, Conyers, Bryant, Frank, Berman, and Becerra. Work in the committee is expected to begin after Congress' July 4th recess and be completed by the end of this month. Of course, last month it was expected that work would be completed by the end of June.

The most controversial measure that will need to be worked out is the "Gallegly" provision in the House version of the immigration bill. The provision would give states the option to deny public education to undocumented children. President Clinton has vowed to veto the immigration bill if this provision is included in the version sent to him for signature. Nevertheless, Republicans in the House are determined to make sure the provision is included in the final bill. Several members of the Senate are vowing to push for a filibuster if the provision is included in the bill (a filibuster is a legislative maneuver which would tie up a bill in endless debate and prevent a final vote). The key to the success of the filibuster will be if the supporting Senators can win on a "vote against cloture" and prevent debate from being ended. The American Immigration Lawyers Association, one of the key organizations leading pro-immigration lobbying efforts, urges its members and everyone else to contact their Senators and urge them to "vote against cloture" should a filibuster effort tied to the Gallegly provision occur. Readers are especially encouraged to contact Senators Hatfield, Murray, Nunn and Specter and let them know you support a vote against cloture.

Of course, we also urge everyone to contact their Representative and Senators and ask them to remove extremist provisions from the immigration bill including, but not limited to, the Gallegly provision. Call 1-800-962-3524 if you want to reach capital hill. Otherwise, e-mail or write them. E-mail and postal addresses can be found by going to links page at our web site. In addition to the Gallegly provision, the American Immigration Lawyers Association has provided us with the following priority list for improving the immigration bill:

1. Remove the 10-year, 3-year, and permanent bars to admissibility and reentry;
2. Preserve relief from deportation ("suspension" and 212(c)relief);
3. Provide adequate protection for refugees--retain the Leahy amendment;
4. Preserve judicial review of deportation and exclusion orders;
5. Remove the 200% income barrier to family immigration;
6. Retain 245(i) adjustment of status;
7. Eliminate H-1B restrictions.

This week, we will be adding a sample letter to our documents collection at our web site showing you what might be covered in an "anti-Gallegly provision" letter to Congress. The letter was provided to us by the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Thanks in advance to all of our readers who follow through in exercising their democratic rights.