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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – ADVOCACY UPDATE CENTER
A number of new bills have been introduced recently. The full text of the bills are also linked in our Advocacy Center (http://www.visalaw.com/advocacy.html)
HOUSE BILLS
H.R. 1128, the American Asian Justice Act, introduced by Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) and supported by 24 other Democrats, would amend the INA to provide for easier immigration to the U.S. of people born in the Philippines (between 1950 and November 24, 1992) and Japan (between 1950 and the effective date of this act) who were fathered by U.S. citizens. 
H.R. 1141, a piece of continuing appropriations legislation, would provide ,000,000, for increased detention requirements for criminal and illegal aliens. The money would remain available until September 30, 2000. The money is being provided because of the expected influx of illegal immigrants from Central America as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch.
H.R. 1155, introduced by Barney Frank (D-MA), would require the Attorney General to make special consideration concerning the English language requirement for naturalization for individuals over 65 and who have been residing in the U.S. for at least five years following lawful admission.
H.R. 1156, the Consular Review Act of 1999, introduced by Barney Frank (D-MA), would create a Board of Visa Appeals within the State Department. The Board would be composed of five members appointed by the Secretary of State, and would have authority to review any discretionary decision of an consular officer relating to the denial, revocation or cancellation of an immigrant visa or a nonimmigrant visa or petition, as well as denials of applications for a wavier of a ground of inadmissibility found in INA section 212. 
H.R. 1250, the Border Improvement and Immigration Act of 1999, introduced by John Lafalce (D-NY) and supported by twelve other Democrat Representatives and three Republican Representatives, would amend section 110(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which required the INS to verify the identity of everyone entering and leaving the U.S. at the Canadian and Mexican borders. Under the proposed version, the Attorney General is to develop an automated entry and exit system for use at air ports-of-entry, to be fully implemented by October 1, 2001. Within one year of the passage of the bill, the Attorney General would be required to submit a report to Congress detailing the feasibility of installing an automated entry and exit system at all ports-of-entry. The bill also calls for an additional 300 INS inspectors and 150 Customs Service inspectors to be placed along the U.S. borders in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
SENATE BILLS
S. 656, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1999, introduced by Jack Reed (D-RI), would allow Liberian nationals who have been physically present in the U.S. since January 1, 1999, and their spouses, minor children, and unmarried adult children to obtain adjustment of status to that of lawful permanent resident. To be eligible, applicants must otherwise be eligible to receive an immigrant visa, except that applicants will not be subject to the requirements relating to public charge, labor certification, illegal entry, or expired or invalid papers. Those who have been convicted of an aggravated felony as defined in the INA are not eligible, nor are those who have been convicted at least twice of crimes involving moral turpitude. Applicants under this section would be able to obtain a stay of removal if they are in proceedings, and are to be given work authorization while the application is pending.
S. 677, Foreign Student Education Costs, introduced by Richard Lugar (R-IN), would create a waiver of the requirement that a nonimmigrant student reimburse the government for the cost of their education. The waiver would apply to study at public secondary schools served by a local educational agency if the agency certifies to the Attorney General that the waiver will not impose undue financial hardship.
S. 682, introduced by Jesse Helms (R-NC) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), would implement the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Adoption of this treaty would call for certain amendments of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 
S. 745, the Border Improvement and Immigration Act of 1999, introduced by Spencer Abraham and supported by 23 other Senators, 15 Republicans and 8 Democrats, covers the same areas as H.R. 1250, discussed above. The Senate bill calls for the same automated system, and also calls for funding to increase the use of technical devices at the borders such as surveillance cameras.
OTHER LEGISLATION
The Colorado State Senate and State House have each approved a law that would make female genital mutilation a child abuse crime in the state. Female genital mutilation is common in some African communities and the custom has been brought over by some to the United States. The bill had been submitted three times in the past and in each case the bill died in the State House. Supporters of the law believe it will pass this time around, in part because of strong support from the state’s district attorneys, who believe that such a law would help them in prosecuting alleged incidents of female genital mutilation.