Update on Senate Amendment Actions

A report from Ana Maria Patino:

National Public Radio just reported that Hutchison’s (R-Texas) and Webb’s (D-Va) amendments were defeated.  You can read the NPR report here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9989859

          Hutchison’s amendment would have required anyone who was applying for a Z visa to return home within 2 years in order to qualify for a renewable Z visa to live and work lawfully in the United States. The vote was 53 to 45. 

          Senator Webb’s amendment would have pushed back eligibility for Z visas from January 1, 2007, to 2003 (4 years before the law’s date of enactment). This would prevent millions of people who arrived within the last 4 years from even seeking Z visas. The amendment also would have created a “roots test” to determine if an immigrant is eligible for legalization, including things like homeownership, business ownership, knowledge of English, education in the US, history of filing taxes, etc. The Webb amendment creates an ill-defined set of eligibility criteria that would prevent millions of people from receiving Z visas. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 79 to 18.

          Expected to be voted on today is the Christopher Bond (R-Mo) amendment 1255  that disqualifies a person with a Z visa to apply for lawful permanent resident status. Hopefully, this amendment is defeated as well.

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