Immigration Legislation and Issues in the110
th
Congress
Summary
Comprehensive immigration reform was the subject of much discussion at thestart of the 110
th
Congress. In the spring of 2007, the Senate considered severalbroad immigration reform measures aimed at addressing a host of perceivedproblems with the U.S. immigration system. These measures combined bordersecurity and interior enforcement provisions with provisions on temporary workers,permanent admissions, and unauthorized aliens. In June 2007, the Senate voted ona motion to invoke cloture on one of these measures (S. 1639), which, if approved,would have ultimately brought the bill to a vote. The motion failed, however, andthe bill was subsequently pulled from the Senate floor.Although it is unclear whether the 110
th
Congress will again take upcomprehensive immigration reform legislation, the Senate, in October 2007,considered one proposal that was included in various comprehensive measures.Known as the DREAM Act, this bill (S. 2205) would enable certain unauthorizedalien students to obtain legal status. The Senate, however, failed to invoke clotureon S. 2205. At the same time, the 110
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Congress has enacted some immigration-related provisions. Among them are refugee-related provisions included in theFY2007 Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution (P.L. 110-5); the U.S. TroopReadiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq AccountabilityAppropriations Act (P.L. 110-28); and a measure to increase the number of Iraqi andAfghani translators and interpreters who may be admitted to the United States asspecial immigrants (P.L. 110-36). The 110
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Congress also has enacted provisionson border security and the Visa Waiver Program as part of a law providing for theimplementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on TerroristAttacks Upon the United States (P.L. 110-53).The 110
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Congress may take up pending proposals on foreign workers —particularly agricultural workers (including H-2A workers) and skilled andprofessional workers (including H-1B workers). Additional border security measuresmay also be considered. Among the other immigration-related issues that the 110
th
Congress may address are state and local enforcement of immigration laws,employment eligibility verification and worksite enforcement, Iraqi refugees, anddocumentary requirements for admission.This report discusses these and other immigration-related issues that have seenlegislative action or are of significant congressional interest. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations are addressed in CRS Report RL34004,
Homeland Security Department: FY2008 Appropriations
, and, for the most part, arenot covered here. This report will be updated as legislative developments occur.
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