tsai3904
04-17-2013, 10:16 AM
S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act
Text:
http://www.schumer.senate.gov/forms/immigration.pdf
19 Page Summary:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/136230105/Outline-of-the-Border-Security-Economic-Opportunity-and-Immigration-Modernization-Act-of-2013
Shorter summary from WSJ (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/04/16/immigration-reform-summary-of-bipartisan-legislation/):
– Homeland Security secretary must submit within 180 days a $4.5 billion plan for surveillance systems, fences, drones and other means to gain “effective control” of high-risk Southern border areas—meaning at least 90% of people attempting to enter illegally are apprehended or turned back.
– At that point, illegal immigrants could register for provisional legal status, allowing those who have lived in the U.S. since Dec. 31, 2011, to work for any employer and travel outside the U.S., but not be eligible for federal benefit programs. They would be required to pay a $500 penalty, assessed taxes and a processing fee. People would be disqualified if convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors, among other grounds.
– Permanent residency status couldn’t be granted until the Homeland Security secretary and other officials declare the border goals to have been met. However, the bill also says people can apply for permanent status after 10 years.
– All employers would be required to use the federal E-Verify system to detect illegal workers, after a five-year phase-in period, and a system must be in place to track people with visas as they leave the country.
– Some agricultural workers and some people brought to the U.S. as children could get green cards in five years. The bill would create a visa for foreigners starting new companies in the U.S. It would increase the number of H-1B visas for highly skilled workers but requires employers who rely heavily on those visas to pay higher fees.
– The bill would create a new “W” visa for low-skilled workers. A new agency would set the annual cap for W visas based on employment conditions and labor shortages.
Text:
http://www.schumer.senate.gov/forms/immigration.pdf
19 Page Summary:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/136230105/Outline-of-the-Border-Security-Economic-Opportunity-and-Immigration-Modernization-Act-of-2013
Shorter summary from WSJ (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/04/16/immigration-reform-summary-of-bipartisan-legislation/):
– Homeland Security secretary must submit within 180 days a $4.5 billion plan for surveillance systems, fences, drones and other means to gain “effective control” of high-risk Southern border areas—meaning at least 90% of people attempting to enter illegally are apprehended or turned back.
– At that point, illegal immigrants could register for provisional legal status, allowing those who have lived in the U.S. since Dec. 31, 2011, to work for any employer and travel outside the U.S., but not be eligible for federal benefit programs. They would be required to pay a $500 penalty, assessed taxes and a processing fee. People would be disqualified if convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors, among other grounds.
– Permanent residency status couldn’t be granted until the Homeland Security secretary and other officials declare the border goals to have been met. However, the bill also says people can apply for permanent status after 10 years.
– All employers would be required to use the federal E-Verify system to detect illegal workers, after a five-year phase-in period, and a system must be in place to track people with visas as they leave the country.
– Some agricultural workers and some people brought to the U.S. as children could get green cards in five years. The bill would create a visa for foreigners starting new companies in the U.S. It would increase the number of H-1B visas for highly skilled workers but requires employers who rely heavily on those visas to pay higher fees.
– The bill would create a new “W” visa for low-skilled workers. A new agency would set the annual cap for W visas based on employment conditions and labor shortages.