Textul complet al legislatiei propuse il gasiti la:

http://stage.gns.gannettonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=BLOGS01 si dati clink pe link-ul din urmatorul paragraf:

 

Use the links below to find out more about immigration reform and the issues the Senate is debating.

Proposed legislation

Senate Judiciary Committee immigration bill (PDF document)

Conform acestei propuneri am inteles ca 2/3 din DV visas vor fi doar pentru cei cu advanced degree si ilegalii cu peste 2 ani de stat in USA vor putea sa isi aduca imediat familiile ( spre deosebire de rezidenti)...

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Fiecare om poseda un anumit orizont. Cand se ingusteaza si devine infinit de mic, el se transforma in punct si atunci omul zice: "Acesta este punctul meu de vedere".

In primul rand as vrea sa notez ca aceasta este doar UNA din propuneri. Intre timp deja s-au facut o serie de amendamente si s-au schimbat o serie de articole. Pana cand nu va apare legea finala nu prea are sens sa ne uitam la aceste lucruri, pt ca fiecare zice altceva.

Dar deoarece se pare ca aceasta propunere reprezinta o baza de la care se poate porni o discutie as sublinia o mica/mare contradictie la care face referire Marioana.

La Family Unity ei spun ca rudele imediate nu mai intra la numaratoare de green carduri, ceea ce se incearca a se obtine pt rezidentii permanenti de multa vreme. Rezultatul ar fi ca dispare asteptarea pt sotii/sotiile rezidentilor permanenti acestia putand veni imediat (la fel ca la cetateni).

Totusi un paragraf mai jos ei se contrazic vorbind de un 2nd preference pt sotiile/copiii minori ai rezidentilor permanenti.

Daca insa vor mari numarul de green carduri anuale atunci timpii de asteptare se vor reduce substantial.

Concluzia insa este cea cu, care am inceput. Trebuie sa asteptam legea finala pt ca se schimba zilnic (saptamna aceasta a fost schimbata zilnic).

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Nu sunt avocat si nu am dreptul de a da sfaturi legale in cazuri de emigrare sau orice alte probleme legale.
Mesajele postate reprezinta doar o parere personala si in nici-un caz nu trebuiesc tratate ca sfat legal. Va incurajez sa contactati un avocat specializat iar daca folositi informatii din aceste mesaje postate o faceti pe riscul dvs. personal.

Si totusi....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/immigration

Diandra:

Si totusi....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060512/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/immigration

Diandra, te rog sa postezi aici articolul si cu linkul catre el la sfarsit. In felul acesta si utilizatorii care sunt pe retele mai incete pot citii mai usor, nemaifiind nevoie sa incarce inca o pagina (ca sa nu mentionez ca dand click pe linkul respectiv parasesti RomPortal si apoi trebuie sa te intorci).

Nu ma refer doar la articolul de fata, ci in general la articole din ziare.

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The only real security in life is to be very good at what you do.

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by President Bush, supporters of immigration legislation established command in the Senate on Tuesday, brushing aside potentially crippling challenges to a bill that blends tougher border enforcement with a path to citizenship for millions in the United States illegally.

"It was a good way to start," said Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo. as a shifting bipartisan coalition held firm against attacks from the left and the right.

On a vote of 55-40 that crossed party lines, the Senate rejected an appeal from Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., to require the border be secured before other immigration law changes could take place.

Anything less would mean "a wink and a nod one more time to those who would come here" unlawfully, said the Georgia Republican. The bill's supporters said he had it backward. "We have to have a comprehensive approach if we're going to gain control of the borders," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., echoing Bush's remarks of the night before.

Hours later, Sen. Byron Dorgan (news, bio, voting record), D-N.D., made an unsuccessful effort to exclude foreigners and recent illegal immigrants from a new guest worker program that could provide jobs for millions over the next decade. "This bill is going to allow illegal workers to come in stamped as legal," he said, but the vote was 69-28 to scuttle his amendment.

Compromise averted a third showdown, when the bill's critics and supporters agreed to deny illegal immigrants any chance at citizenship if they had been convicted of three misdemeanors or a felony.

The maneuvering took place at the beginning of what Senate leaders predicted would be a lengthy debate over the most significant changes in immigration law in two decades, an election-year issue that has laid bare deep divisions inside both parties and sparked street demonstrations across the country.

The Senate bill provides additional funds for border security, the guest worker program, an eventual opportunity at citizenship for most of the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country and a tougher program of enforcement to prevent the hiring of illegal workers.

The Senate accepted two changes during the day, one by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (news, bio, voting record), D-N.M., to limit the guest worker program to 200,000 individuals a year, the other by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to authorize the hiring of 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents as well as the purchase of new helicopters and boats.

Senate passage appears likely by Memorial Day.

Republicans and Democrats alike heralded Bush's Monday night Oval Office prime time speech as a turning point, at least as far as the Senate was concerned. The president announced plans to deploy as many as 6,000 National Guard troops in states along the Mexican border, and made his first unambiguous endorsement of a plan to allow millions of immigrants an eventual chance at citizenship as part of a comprehensive approach to the issue.

Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., Cuban-born and a supporter of the bill, said Bush had "solidified some votes" among Republicans. He predicted that the legislation's supporters had the strength needed to defeat all killer amendments.

"The president gets it," said Sen. *** Durbin, D-Ill., although he and other Democrats were quick to raise doubts about the commitment of numerous congressional Republicans to the approach Bush outlined.

There was ample room for doubt, as Democrats fretted that any Senate-passed bill would be changed beyond all recognition in later negotiations with House Republicans who favor a border security-only approach.

"Thinly veiled attempts to promote amnesty cannot be tolerated,' said Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, voicing the sentiment that prevails among many House Republicans. "While America is a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of laws, and rewarding those who break our laws not only dishonors the hard work of those who came here legally but does nothing to fix our current situation."

But for now, the focus was on the Senate, where Republican and Democratic critics took to attacking the bill without success.

Isakson went first, brushing aside claims that in seeking to assure the border was under control, he was asking for the impossible. "Listen, this country put a man on the moon in nine years. This country responded to the terrorist attacks on 9-11 within three weeks. This country can do anything it sets its mind to."

Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, one of the most outspoken opponents of the bill, said Isakson's proposal was designed to "put the horse in front of the cart, not the cart in front of the horse. Let's do first things first."

Democrats led the counter-attack. The party's leader, Sen. Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada, called it a "killer amendment." Salazar added, "In the past, for the last 20 years when we've tried to approach immigration issue by only looking at one issue at a time, we have failed." He said a "comprehensive approach was needed."

Isakson's proposal drew the opposition of 36 Democrats, 18 Republicans and one independent. There were 33 Republicans and seven Democrats in favor. The entire senior GOP leadership was among the supporters, including Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, who heads the GOP campaign committee.

"The president needs to talk to his own leaders here if he wants comprehensive immigration reform," jabbed Reid. "We've got a lot of tough votes coming up."

Frist seemed undeterred, a potential White House challenger courting conservatives for 2008, yet the leader of Senate Republican who pledges support for Bush's approach. "...Border security first, foremost. We've got to do it as part of a comprehensive plan," he told reporters. At the same time, he signaled acceptance of a portion of the bill that displeases conservatives, the part that allows some illegal immigrants to gain citizenship without leaving the country.

Eager to ward off any political danger, opponents of Isakson's proposal countered with a proposal that said none of the law's changes could take effect unless the president declared they were in the country's national interest. It passed, 79-16.

Dorgan's attack on the guest worker program went down to a defeat led by Republicans. He said the guest worker program was the price supporters had paid to win the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060517/ap_on_go_co/immigration

Amendments Likely to be Voted On In Senate CIR Debate

*Below is a list of amendments likely to be voted on. Amendments that AILA has taken a position on are noted accordingly. Because this document is updated daily as the Senate debate progresses, it includes the outcome of amendments already voted on.

*Updated 5/22/06 (8:00 pm)

Amendment Number	Sponsor(s)			Summary		AILA’s Position			Outcome
Isakson (R-GA)		~requires DHS to certify that U.S. borders are secure and new detention facilities are fully operational before the guest worker and legalization programs could take effect.			OPPOSE			Failed
Salazar (D-CO)			~authorizes President to trigger implementation of the guest worker and legalization provisions by certifying that they would strengthen the national security of the United States.				Passed
SA 4017	Dorgan (D-ND) Stabenow (D-MI)			~eliminates guest worker program		OPPOSE			Tabled (permanently kills pending matter and ends further debate)
Bingaman (D-NM) Feinstein (D-CA)		~lowers the number of guest workers authorized for "essential" jobs to 200,000, and eliminates the market-based cap adjustment in the Senate bill.			OPPOSE			Adopted by voice vote. (Vote to table did not pass).
SA 3999		Kerry (D-MA)			~increases border security and related equipment.			Adopted by voice vote.
Kyl (R-AZ) Cornyn (R-TX)		~prohibits undocumented person from obtaining legalization if he is a convicted felon or has had three convictions for misdemeanors—largely redundant provisions. The significant change proposed is the bar to legalization for those who have already been ordered removed. Provides DHS with discretionary waiver authority.			OPPOSE			Passed.
SA 3979	Sessions (R-AL) Santorum (R-PA)			~authorizes 370 miles of border fencing and vehicle barriers along US-Mexico border		OPPOSE			Passed
SA 3971		Obama (D-IL)			~inserts provisions for determination of prevailing wage. Prevailing wage is the wage set forth in existing collective bargaining agreement. Absent such agreement, if occupation is covered by wage determination, prevailing wage is the appropriate statutory wage. Absent both of these, prevailing wage based on published wage data for the occupation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics first, or DOL wage determination second.			Adopted by voice vote.
SA 3963	Vitter (R-LA) Kyl (R-AZ) Ensign (R-NV) Sessions (R-AL) Chambliss (R-GA) Grassley (R-IA), et al.			~strikes bill provisions allowing undocumented person to obtain a green card while in the U.S.		OPPOSE			Failed
SA 4018		Stevens (R-AK) Leahy (D-VT)			~ amends Section 7209 (b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 note) by striking "January 1, 2008"			Passed

and inserting "June 1, 2009".
SA 3965	Cornyn (R-TX) Kyl (R-AZ) Sessions (R-AL) Ensign (R-NV), et al.		~strikes the bill provisions allowing new H-2C (guest worker) visa holders to self-petition for a green card.		OPPOSE		Passed
SA 4065	Kennedy McCain Graham		~alternative to SA 3965. Allows H-2C worker after 4 years to file labor cert application with DOL to certify no US workers available. If approved, worker can demonstrate eligibility by providing 2 of 4 official government documents (SSA; IRS; official employer records; any other government agency documents) proving the requisite prior employment.		Support		Passed
SA 3985	Ensign (R-NV)		~bars people who have legalized from consolidating their social security earnings and obtaining eventual benefits		OPPOSE		Tabled (permanently kills pending matter and ends further debate)
SA 4029		Akaka (D-HI)		~grants special immigrant status to children of Filipino World War II veterans		Adopted by voice vote
SA 3964	Vitter (R-LA)		~strikes bill provisions allowing undocumented individual to self-attest to the requirements for legalization (i.e., time in country and period of work).		OPPOSE		Adopted by voice vote
SA 4064	Inhofe (R-OK) Sessions (R-AL)		~mandates that English become the official "national language" of the United States; requires that English be used in all official business of the United States; requires passage of an English proficiency test for citizenship.		OPPOSE		Passed
SA 4073		Salazar (D-CO)		~alternative to SA 4064. States that English be recognized as the "common and unifying language" of the United States.		Passed
SA 4072		Clinton (D-NY) Salazar (D-CO) Schumer (D-NY) Boxer (D-CA) Obama (D-IL)		~provides financial support to state and local governments for certain efforts/services related to immigration. Funding derived solely from existing fees within S.2611, including fees paid by H-2C guest workers applying for citizenship. Funding does not come from funds allocated to border security.		Failed
SA 4038		Cornyn (R-TX)		~alternative to SA 4072. Imposes additional fees (not currently in S.2611) on undocumented immigrants applying for guest worker status, in order to provide financial support to state and local governments for certain efforts/services related to immigration.		Passed
SA 3969	Kyl (R-AZ) Cornyn (R-TX) Chambliss (R-GA) Ensign (R-NV), et al.		~strikes the bill provision allowing any kind of path to a green card by H-2C guest worker visa holders		OPPOSE		Tabled (permanently kills pending matter and ends further debate)
SA 3998		Nelson (D-FL)		~increases the number of detention beds by an additional 20,000		Adopted by voice vote.
SA 4099		Chambliss (R-GA) Alexander (R-TN) Bond (R-MO)		~amends H-2A program to require employers of agricultural workers to pay prevailing wage rate, doing away with adverse effect wage rate.		Tabled (permanently kills pending matter and ends further debate)
SA 4076		Ensign (R-NV)		~provides reimbursement for the use of National		Passed

Guard to protect the border
SA 4087		Feinstein (D-CA)		~modifies conditions on which undocumented aliens present in US are granted legal status. Creates biometric "Orange Card" to streamline process for earned legalization, and eliminates 3-tiered system for earned legalization.
SA 4020	Brownback (R-KS) Lieberman (D-CT)		~safeguards the rights of asylum seekers and others in immigration detention by: requiring the videotaping of interviews at ports of entry (to ensure CBP follows proper procedures and alien’s statements are recorded accurately); mandating accurate translation services; mandating an initial parole determination be made by DHS within 72 hours of the alien’s detention, and a de novo review by an immigration judge within two weeks after that; establishing consistent criteria for the release determination; requiring that DHS develop new standards or modify existing standards to improve detention conditions in several areas, including the use of shackling and solitary confinement, and access to legal counsel and medical care; mandating that Non-criminal non-violent detainees be separated from inmates with criminal convictions; establishing an Office of Detention Oversight within DHS to conduct inspections of detention facilities and investigations; and requiring the nation-wide expansion of a "secure alternatives" program, providing more humane alternatives to prisons and jails for detainees.		Support
Cornyn (R-TX) Kyl (R-AZ) Sessions (R-AL)		~strikes provisions that preserve confidentiality of information provided by program applicants		OPPOSE
SA 3991	Grassley (R-IA)		~requires that undocumented persons pay all back taxes before legalization (Note: S. 2611 already requires that Group 1 aliens pay taxes for 3 of the 5 years that they were a resident in the United States).		OPPOSE
Hutchison (R-TX)		~Secure Authorized Foreign Employee (SAFE) Visa. - Proposes the creation of a new, guest worker (future flow) program; does not offer social services or a path to citizenship. Applicants must apply from home country, complete background check, have proof of employment and return to their country of origin for two months of the year. Safe visa is renewable. Employer is responsible for standard payroll withholding/deductions and must pay prevailing wage.		OPPOSE
Kyl (R-AZ)		~strikes bill provisions allowing unauthorized aliens to obtain a green card, but it provides a humanitarian exemption (for elderly and others).		OPPOSE
SA 4083	Feingold (D-WI)		~ strikes bill section 227(c), which would preclude courts from staying the removal of any alien pursuant to a final order unless the alien shows by clear and convincing evidence that the entry or		Support

execution of such order is prohibited as a matter of law.
SA 3972	Leahy (D-VT)			~deletes the injunction-stripping language of bill sections 421-423. These sections make it more difficult to get meaningful relief when DHS misinterprets immigration laws, whether the affected individuals are asylees, LPRs, guestworkers, or S. 2611 legalization applicants.		Support
Burns (R-MT)			~Prohibits counting of undocumented for reapportionment purposes
SA 3980		Cornyn (R-TX)			~Requires that some fees/fines paid by undocumented to become legalized go to a health care fund to reimburse hospitals
SA 4054		Gregg (R-NH)			~requires that aliens with higher educational degrees receive the majority of the diversity visas
McConnell (R-KY)			~Voting amendment
Santorum (R-PA)			~provides that to obtain a visa under the H-1b visa cap, a foreign professor who intends to teach at an American university must speak fluent English.
Santorum (R-PA)			~adds countries to the Visa Waiver Program that contributed substantially to U.S. coalition efforts in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that are members of the European Union. (Note: this amendment is designed to allow Poland visa waiver status).
Sessions (R-AL)			~clarifies that undocumented immigrants who become legalized are prohibited from public benefits

http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=19467

DIANDRA, nimic din ce-ai postat nu-i sigur. Congresul nici nu vrea sa auda de idea ca ilegali sa aiba acces la cetatenie, pe cind senatul exact pe ideea asta merge. Dar cum domnii astia nu folosesc ratiunea in luarea deciziilor, te poti astepta la orice. Totu-i politichie. Totu-i UTOPIE. Senatul le da ilegalilor 90 de zile sa se inregistreze. NOUAZECI. Nu stiu cine si cum va reusi sa prelucreze atitea date, cind uscis-ul e acum supra-aglomerat. Intreaba pe cine a venit cu K1, si nu numai. Normal ar fi ca in 2 ani procesul sa fie complet, sa ai GC, iar in 3 ani sa ai dreptul de a aplica la cetatenie. Intreaba cit a luat. Si asta in conditiile in care numarul de dosare e mai putin de 15% din ce va fi daca se voteaza legalilzarea imigrantilor. Ca sa nu iau in calcul faptul ca cei cu viza K1 sint capabili sa urmeze un proces, ca vorbesc engleza, pe cind cei mai multi ilegali nici nu vorbesc englza, si nici nu-s obisnuiti cu sistemul american.

Girbova, aici nu sunt de acord cu tine. Tu sustii ca majoritatea celor veniti cu, K1 vorbesc engleza mai bine si sunt mai adaptati la sistemul american, decat cei care traiesc, muncesc, sunt in US de 10 ani??!?!?!?

Eu nu zic ca nu or fi si exceptii in principal printre fetele romance care vin aici la sotii lor americani, dar nu cred ca majoritatea K1 sunt din Romania. K1 sunt in India, sunt in China, sunt in Pakistan, sunt in Mexic, etc. etc.

Cat despre lege, sa vedem ce se intampla saptamana aceasta. Ei zic ca pana vineri s-ar da ceva. Si ca se va gasi un numitor comun cu, Camera.

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The only real security in life is to be very good at what you do.

Alien, Eu nu traiesc in US si nici nu am de gand. Dar asa din afara pot spune urmatoarele: Cel mai mare impediment in invatarea limbii engleze este acela de a lucra/traii intr-un mediu in care se vorbeste limba ta materna. Nu degeaba a fost introdusa masiv limba spaniola in domeniul public din statele din sudul US, de la firme si meniu-uri de restaurant bilingve pana la formulare oficiale si serviciile 911 etc. India a fost colonie engleza, limba oficiala este Hindi dar si engleza, sunt (fara exagerare) zeci de milioane de fete si baieti indieni care fac scoala in engleza de la cursul primar pana in facultate, jumatate din acestia vorbesc engleza si acasa. E adevarat ca au accent, dar stiu engleza mai bine decat un emigrant mexican cu 20 de ani vechime si cu oricata bunavointa de a invata limba. De asemeni Pakistanezii (nu uitati ca Pakistanul a fost parte din India pana relativ recent). Chinezii sun peste un miliard, din care poate cinci sute de milioane viseaza sa plece in vest, chiar credeti ce nu vor sti engleza foarte bine cand vor aplica? Eu cred ca nu se poate pune semnul egal referitor la "drepturile" diferitelor categorii de emigranti. Este adevarat ca este frustrant ca un mexican analfabet sa capete viza mai repede decat un roman care poate a invatat pe branci si si-a vandut tot numai ca sa aiba sansa sa isi vada visul cu ochii... Dar viata nu este dreapta, guvernul US nu va putea face "dreptate" oricat s-ar stradui. Sugerez ca actualii si viitorii aplicanti sa se concentreze asupra situatiei lor personale si sa ii lase pe "ilegali" sa isi croiasca drumul lor. La urma urmei sunt si ei oameni, majoritatea de treaba, care isi incearca norocul si isi croiesc un drum in viata, fiecare cum poate mai bine - ca noi toti, de altfel.

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A point is that which has no part.

AAmmeerriiccaann IImmmmiiggrraattiioonn LLaawwyyeerrss AAssssoocciiaattiioonn

Senate Votes Down "Orange Card," Rejects Humanitarian Waiver

The Senate continued debate today on S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. As we reported yesterday, a cloture petition was filed last evening, meaning that a cloture vote will be held tomorrow morning. It appears likely that the Senate will vote on final passage of S. 2611 on Thursday.

The first vote of the day occurred on Senator Feinstein’s (D-CA) "orange card" amendment. As we previously reported, the amendment (No. 4087) would replace the bill’s three-tiered treatment of undocumented aliens with a single system that would provide a path to citizenship for all eligible aliens present in the U.S. on January 1, 2006. Prospective applicants would have to register and submit fingerprints, pass all required background checks, demonstrate presence in the country, work history, an understanding of English, civics and American history, and pay back taxes and a $2,000 fine. In addition, orange card holders would have to fulfill an annual reporting requirement and pay a $50 processing fee on each occasion. After completing the six-year prospective work requirement, orange card holders would be placed at the end of the line to apply for a green card, with their individual place in line corresponding to the length of time they had been in the U.S.

Several Senators who opposed the amendment did so reluctantly, noting that while they agreed with the substance of the Feinstein approach, they believed that passage of the amendment would break the "delicate and fragile coalition" currently supporting the bill and, ultimately, cause the bill to fail. The Senate rejected the Feinstein amendment by a vote of 37 to 61.

Next on deck was an amendment offered by Senator Leahy (D-VT) (No. 4117) that would restore protection to refugees who are the unintended victims of broad "anti-terrorism" laws. Senator Leahy argued that thousands of vulnerable refugees are in jeopardy because of recently added language in the INA that bars admission to anyone who has associated with or provided "material support" to any armed group. Although some of these groups have coerced this "support" with violence, the law makes no exceptions for refugees who were threatened. Nor is any exception made for those, including children, who are not aware of the activities of groups to whom they provided only minimal support. The "material support" language, he said, is being interpreted in such a way that victims of terror are being treated as supporters of terrorism. The Leahy amendment would make an exception to the "material support" provisions for refugees who gave involuntary support to an armed group. It would also exclude from the definition of "terrorist organization" groups determined not to pose a threat to national security or U.S. nationals.

A Motion to Table the Leahy amendment was agreed to by a vote of 79 to 20, thus killing the amendment.

Senator Grassley (R-IA) introduced an amendment (No. 4177) that would, among other things, amend Title III of the compromise bill to replace the current paper I-9 process with a new

1

electronic verification system that employers would have to use to verify an employee’s employment authorization.

Senators approved the Grassley amendment by a vote of 58 to 40.

Senators next considered an amendment (No. 4106) offered by Senator Kennedy (D-MA) that would bolster the enforcement of various labor protections, including updating the penalties under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). It would also provide additional protections aimed at allowing workers to organize freely, and require that 25% of fees collected under the bill’s guestworker program be dedicated to enforcement of the provisions of the FLSA, OSHA regulations and the labor protection provisions included in the underlying bill. Finally, the amendment seeks to legislate around the Supreme Court’s decision in Hoffman Plastics by providing that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, aliens who are subject to unlawful employment practices may not be denied backpay or other monetary relief on the basis of the alien’s immigration status.

A Motion to Table the Kennedy amendment was agreed to by a vote of 56 to 41, thereby killing the amendment.

In the final vote of the day, the Senate took up an amendment by Senator Durbin (D-IL) (No. 4142) that would provide the government with discretionary authority to provide a waiver to certain immigrants who are penalized under select "Title II" provisions of the Senate immigration bill. The limited humanitarian waiver would provide the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security with the discretion to exempt from punishment individuals with compelling equities. The waiver would be at the sole and unreviewable discretion of the government and the immigrant would have to demonstrate extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident immediate family member.

Senators approved a Motion to Table the Durbin amendment on a vote of 63 to 34.

The Senate is expected to begin proceedings at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, with debate followed by a vote on an amendment (No. 4085) offered by Senator McConnell (R-KY) that would require individuals voting in federal elections to present a current, valid photo identification that meets the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005. The cloture vote is expected to occur shortly thereafter.

47LE6034

http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=19477

Alien, da-mi voie sa te contrazic: DA, sustin ca cei veniti cu K1 VORBESC engleza, si pe de-asupra au un sot/soatza cetatean american, care cunoaste sistemul si bine inteles limba. Si asa cum spune si Euclid sint o multime de alte nationalitati care nu au nici o problema cu limba vorbita. Sint convinsa ca si tu stii realitatea, dar sa stii ca vorbesc din experienta proprie, si inca nu am intilnit hispanic care macar sa vorbeasca onorabil  engleza. Cind spun asta ma refer la cei care au venit in usa in ultimii 20 de ani. De obicei traiesc in grupuri etnice, si-i inteleg, ca se ajuta, si punind mina de la mina pot inchira apartamente, ori case in zone nu prea scumpe, dar in felul asta NU invata engleza. Ca sa nu spun ca si la lucru au un sef de echipa care vorbeste cit de cit engleza, si-i pe post de translator. Iti mai dau un exemplu. Acum 9 ani am luat cursuri de engleza, si jumatate din cursanti erau hispanici, cu cel putin 5 ani traiti in usa. Dupa 2 saptamini, desi platisera, au disparul 2/3 din ei. Am cunoscut o d-na din Salvador, care e fost contabila si la vremea aia lucra in "cleaning ind" cum spunea ea, si care nu era capabila sa poarte o discutie in engleza. Dupa o luna au trimis-o la intermediari, ca nu facea fata in grupul de advanced. Si vreau sa spun ca advanced fiind, esti inca destul de departe de a stii cit de cit engleza. Am intilnit-o dupa 5-6 ani, tot atit de "bine" vorbea engleza, si avea aceeasi slujba. De ce? Nu cred ca-i doar vina lor, mai degraba e un cerc vicios greu de rupt. Hispanicii, aproape fara exceptie, nu au studii, nu au mentalitatea celor din alte tari, care cel putin incearca sa promoveze dupa venirea aici. Cei mai multi lucreaza in agricultura si constructii, si-s adusi de un "antreprenor hispanic" care-i exploateaza chiar mai rau decit firmele americane. Nu prea am auzit sa fi incercat sa-si depaseasca conditia, oricit de greu ar fi. Nu departe de noi e un complex de apartamente, si acum citiva ani, situatia se stricase, si aproape in fiecare seara auzeai sirenele politiei. A culminat cu un incediu, dupa care au disparut hispanicii. Am auzit ca au modificat regulile, adica nu inchiriau apartamentele (3 bedrooms) daca "familia" avea mai mult de 6 persoane. In mai putin de 6 luni s-a facut liniste. De ce? Pt 2 lucrau, iar celilalti 3-4 pierdeau vremea ca nu aveau un job permanent, si se plictiseau. Era deplorabil sa vezi barbati, femei, copii, la 4-5 pm cu sticle de bere la intrarea in blocuri. Mi-au amintit de cartierele mai putin bune din Ro, unde tanti x si y birfeau toata ziua, dar uitau ca au copii. Nenea z venea acasa suparat ca mincarea nu era gata, si incepea "distractia". Poti sa ma acuzi de ce vrei, dar asta-i situatia. Cumparam fructe si veggies direct din feme, sa vezi tu ce imagine e in apropiere: daca vezi baracile, iti face impresia ca nimeni nu lucreaza, pt ca-s atitia care nu lucreaza. Un alt fapt: in Baltimore, dragul de primar a deschis un "centru de asteptare" pt nondocumented immigrants, unde se adunau dimineata, in asteptarea contractorilor. Dupa 10am, locul se transforma in orice, dar nu ceva civilizat. Cind politia a refuzat sa mai mearga acolo, populatia din zona au obligat primaria sa inchida centrul, care era de fapt centru de distribuirea drogurilor. Ca sa nu pomenesc de M66, cred ca-i spune. Intreaba-l pe didi cite crime au fost la scolile din Montgomery County, si cine le-a comis. Sint de acord ca cele mai multi sint harnici si onesti, dar multi nu-s. Si mai vreau sa-ti spun ceva: daca masina ta ar fi fost lovita de una condusa de un emigrant ilegal, fara asigurare, nu-s sigura ca tot asa ai gindi. Cind ma gindesc ca in Md le da DL fara sa verifice statusul, ma apuca frica. Cine se va asigura? Ce-s nebuni?

Si ma raliez lui Prism, intrebindu-ma de ce uitam ca am venit legal, si acum facem rabat, "aliindu-ne" din mila, umanitate, ori cum vreti voi sa-i spuneti, cu cei care au incalcat legea? Pai daca au incalcat legea trecind granita ilegal, ori stind peste viza, nu-i o ilegalitate? Ce certitudine aveti ca dupa ce vor fi LEGALI, vor respecta legea? A mai fost o amnistie in 1986, si uite unde sintem dupa 20 de ani.  Stiu, sint destui politicieni care nu-s de acord cu ce spun, dar asta nu inseamna ca nu am dreptate. In plus politicienii-s corupti, apara interesele celor care au contribuit ca sa-i ajute sa fie alesi. Stiu ca-s oameni si ei, dar nu inteleg de ce NOI trebuie sa le purtam de grija, ca ei nu si-au purtat de grija si au riscat sa  vina cu orice pret. Sint convinsa ca pina la urma vor ajunge la consens si politicienii, si in urmatorii 10 ani, daca vom trai, va mai fi o alta amnistie pt 50 milioane, si ca sa traiesti in America trebuie sa inveti spaniola. De ce  nu Romana? Just kidding.

Amendments Likely to be Voted On In Senate CIR Debate

*Below is a list of amendments likely to be voted on. Amendments that AILA has taken a position on are noted accordingly. Because this document is updated daily as the Senate debate progresses, it includes the outcome of amendments already voted on.

*Updated 5/24/06 (10:20 am)

Amendment Number	Sponsor(s)			Summary		AILA’s Position			Outcome
Isakson (R-GA)		~requires DHS to certify that U.S. borders are secure and new detention facilities are fully operational before the guest worker and legalization programs could take effect.			OPPOSE			Failed
Salazar (D-CO)			~authorizes President to trigger implementation of the guest worker and legalization provisions by certifying that they would strengthen the national security of the United States.				Passed
SA 4017	Dorgan (D-ND) Stabenow (D-MI)			~eliminates guest worker program		OPPOSE			Tabled (permanently kills pending matter and ends further debate)
Bingaman (D-NM) Feinstein (D-CA)		~lowers the number of guest workers authorized for "essential" jobs to 200,000, and eliminates the market-based cap adjustment in the Senate bill.			OPPOSE			Adopted by voice vote. (Vote to table did not pass).
SA 3999		Kerry (D-MA)			~increases border security and related equipment.			Adopted by voice vote.
Kyl (R-AZ) Cornyn (R-TX)		~prohibits undocumented person from obtaining legalization if he is a convicted felon or has had three convictions for misdemeanors—largely redundant provisions. The significant change proposed is the bar to legalization for those who have already been ordered removed. Provides DHS with discretionary waiver authority.			OPPOSE			Passed.
SA 3979	Sessions (R-AL) Santorum (R-PA)			~authorizes 370 miles of border fencing and vehicle barriers along US-Mexico border		OPPOSE			Passed
SA 3971		Obama (D-IL)			~inserts provisions for determination of prevailing wage. Prevailing wage is the wage set forth in existing collective bargaining agreement. Absent such agreement, if occupation is covered by wage determination, prevailing wage is the appropriate statutory wage. Absent both of these, prevailing wage based on published wage data for the occupation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics first, or DOL wage determination second.			Adopted by voice vote.
SA 3963	Vitter (R-LA) Kyl (R-AZ) Ensign (R-NV) Sessions (R-AL) Chambliss (R-GA) Grassley (R-IA), et al.			~strikes bill provisions allowing undocumented person to obtain a green card while in the U.S.		OPPOSE			Failed
SA 4018		Stevens (R-AK) Leahy (D-VT)			~ amends Section 7209 (b)(1) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 note) by striking "January 1, 2008"			Passed

and inserting "June 1, 2009".
SA 3965	Cornyn (R-TX) Kyl (R-AZ) Sessions (R-AL) Ensign (R-NV), et al.		~strikes the bill provisions allowing new H-2C (guest worker) visa holders to self-petition for a green card.		OPPOSE		Passed
SA 4065	Kennedy (D-MA) McCain (R-AZ) Graham (R-SC)		~alternative to SA 3965. Allows H-2C worker after 4 years to file labor cert application with DOL to certify no US workers available. If approved, worker can demonstrate eligibility by providing 2 of 4 official government documents (SSA; IRS; official employer records; any other government agency documents) proving the requisite prior employment.		SUPPORT		Passed
SA 3985	Ensign (R-NV)		~bars people who have legalized from consolidating their social security earnings and obtaining eventual benefits		OPPOSE		Tabled (permanently kills pending matter and ends further debate)
SA 4029		Akaka (D-HI)		~grants special immigrant status to children of Filipino World War II veterans		Adopted by voice vote
SA 3964	Vitter (R-LA)		~strikes bill provisions allowing undocumented individual to self-attest to the requirements for legalization (i.e., time in country and period of work).		OPPOSE		Adopted by voice vote
SA 4064	Inhofe (R-OK) Sessions (R-AL)		~mandates that English become the official "national language" of the United States; requires that English be used in all official business of the United States; requires passage of an English proficiency test for citizenship.		OPPOSE		Passed
SA 4073