Immigration Reform

For several years, some Members of Congress have favoured "comprehensive immigration reform" (CIR), a label that commonly refers to omnibus legislation that includes increased border security and immigration enforcement, expanded employment eligibility verification, revision of non-immigrant visas and legal permanent immigration, and legalisation for some unauthorised aliens residing in the country. Leaders in both chambers have identified immigration as a legislative priority in the 113th Congress. While Members of the House reportedly have considered several different approaches to immigration reform during the spring of 2013, debate in the Senate has focused mainly on a single CIR bill: the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744). This book summarises major provisions of S. 744, as reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It also discusses H.R. 1417, as reported by the House Homeland Security Committee, a bill that focuses more narrowly on border security strategies and metrics. The analysis focuses on eight major policy areas that encompass the U.S. immigration debate: comprehensive reform "triggers" and funding; border security; interior enforcement; employment eligibility verification and worksite enforcement; legalisation of unauthorised aliens; immigrant visas; non-immigrant visas; and humanitarian provisions. This book provides a detailed discussion of major legislation related to each of these issues.