Modifications to Specter Bill

The following are some of the amendments passed on March 9, 2006 modifying the Specter draft comprehensive immigration reform bill:

 

  1. Kyl (R-AZ) provision to provide for more fencing in Arizona .
  2. Kennedy (D-MA) accompanying amendment requiring a study prior to constructing any additional physical barriers.
  3. Sessions (R-AL) amendment requiring increasing the number of Border Patrol agents from 2,000 to 2,400.
  4. Kennedy (D-MA) amendment regarding interagency coordination on alien smuggling.
  5. Sessions (R-AL) amendment to extend preemption to the required construction of day laborer shelters.
  6. Grassley (R-IA) amendment to require DHS to review all contracts worth more than $20,000,000 connected with the Secure Border Initiative.
  7. Sessions (R-AL) amendment requiring detention of “Other Than Mexicans” caught at or between ports of entry. Phase in approach with bonds of at least $5000 permitted beginning sixty days after passage and then mandatory detention after October 1, 2006 . Cubans excepted.
  8. Cornyn (R-TX) provision bars those convicted of sex crimes from sponsoring family members.
  9. Grassley (R-IA) amendment to increase enforcement personnel allocated to each state.
  10. Brownback (R-KS) amendment to permanently authorize the Conrad J-1 physician waiver program.
  11. Coburn (R-OK) amendment requiring DHS to impose expedited removal within 14 days for people apprehended within 100 miles of the border (excluding lawful permanent residents).
  12. Feinstein (D-CA) amendment excepting refugees and asylees from the passport fraud language.

 

A key amendment from Senator Durbin (D-IL) to take out the controversial provisions form the bill criminalizing unlawful status and to soften smuggling provisions to ensure that smuggling crimes don’t include the work of humanitarian assistance were deferred and Senator Specter instructed the committee staff to work out language before the amendment would be reconsidered.

 

The Judiciary Committee has been granted a March 27th deadline by Senator Majority leader Bill Frist (R-TN) or he will bring his own enforcement-only bill up for a vote.  

 

 

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