According to The Washington Post, Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., who previously wanted to prevent all undocumented immigrants in Virginia from getting the residents' tuition break at state universities changed his mind and has proposed the first legal avenue for some to pay the reduced fee. The senator amended his bill to offer the lower, in-state tuition to undocumented students who are pursuing legal residency, who graduated from a Virginia high school and whose families have paid income taxes for at least three years. Senator Hanger, Jr. states that this proposal will be an incentive to help undocumented students. The senator’s bill will still bar undocumented immigrants whose parents have not been paying taxes or who are not actively seeking to become legal from receiving in-state tuition. The bill received unanimous and bipartisan support from the Senate's Education and Health Committee, including several members who previously opposed the idea.

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According to The Washington Times Hispanic leaders along with both documented and undocumented immigrants lobbied to the General Assembly on February 1, 2006 to oppose pending measures that they say will scare people and hurt the economy. The lobbyists included the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, the American Jewish Committee and the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

With a 77-22 vote, the House approved a measure that would give 50 state troopers the authority to detain undocumented immigrants. Delegates are also expected to pass a bill that denies undocumented aliens college admission and a measure that requires students who cannot prove their legal presence to pay out-of-state tuition rates, even if they graduated from a Virginia high school.

Supporters of the measures argue that undocumented immigrants take spots from legal Virginia residents at public colleges and universities. Immigration activists claim that denying an education to undocumented immigrants is unfair because they pay taxes that contribute to the state's education system and Social Security that they cannot legally collect when they retire.

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In Georgia , a new immigration bill has been proposed by state Senator Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) in order to help curb the number of undocumented immigrants entering the state.  The bill, which targets businesses who hire immigrant workers, will deny tax relief to employers who cannot supply proper documentation that their employees are legal residents of the United States .  This new legislation is aimed at encouraging companies to abide by immigration policies through financial incentives. 

The bill places the burden on the employer to prove the nationality of its employees, yet many businesses are not complaining.  The bill does not explicitly fine employers for hiring undocumented immigrants.  

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United States Senator Barbara Mikulski (Dem. MD) wants to extend a temporary work visa program that allows migrant workers to fill seasonal jobs along the East Coast.  Prior to congress modifying to the rules to allow more seasonal migrant workers, many businesses suffered due to a lack of available help.  Of the seasonal industries that are supported by migrant workers, crab factories in Maryland will be one of the biggest beneficiaries if Mikulski’s proposals get through congress.  Because of this, the crabbing industry has voiced plans to lobby Mikulski’s ideas and expects to gain popular support for their cause

Critics of Mikulski’s plan say that migrant workers take jobs away from Americans while others point to the human rights violations that occur in migrant workplaces.  Despite these objections, lawmakers from other states are offering their support in hopes that the three year reprieve that Mikulski is proposing will benefit their economies.

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The Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims will hold an oversight hearing at 12:00PM on Wednesday, March 2, 2006 in Room 2237 of the Rayburn House Office Building .  This is an oversight hearing on violence and incursions along our southern border.

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According to The Associated Press, Republican Sen. John McCain says that President Bush needs to do more to help push a temporary guest worker program through Congress. The Bush administration has considered the idea of a temporary worker program since Bush took office in 2001, but it was hindered by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In early 2004, Bush laid out guidelines for a temporary worker program.

Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has told lawmakers the Senate will begin considering immigration legislation March 27.The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on a bill on March 2. The House passed an immigration enforcement bill last year that called for building fences on the U.S.-Mexican border, allowing local law officials to enforce immigration laws, and requiring employers to verify the legal status of their employees.

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S.2049 - A bill to improve the security of the United States borders and for other purposes. 

     Sponsor:Sen Domenici, Pete V. (introduced 11/17/2005 )   

     CRS Summary: Introduced. Go to the Web page to see the new summary.

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:SN02049:/

  S.2241 - A bill for the relief of Carmen Shahrzad Kulcsar. 

     Sponsor:Sen Feinstein, Dianne (introduced 2/2/2006 )   

     CRS Summary: Introduced. Go to the Web page to see the new summary.

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:SN02241:/

  S.2326 - A bill to provide for immigration reform, and for other purposes. 

     Sponsor:Sen Domenici, Pete V. (introduced 2/17/2006 )   

     Bill Status: 2/17/2006 : Introductory remarks on measure.

        (CR S1464-1465)

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:SN02326:/

  S.119 - A bill to provide for the protection of unaccompanied alien children, and for other purposes. 

     Sponsor:Sen Feinstein, Dianne (introduced 1/24/2005 )   

     Short title as passed Senate: Unaccompanied Alien Child

        Protection Act of 2005

     http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d109:SN00119:/