New Democrat Coalition’s Immigration Task Force to Introduce New CIR Bill
The New Democrat Coalition‘s Immigration Task Force announced in a press release issued today that it will be introducing a new comprehensive immigration reform bill today. This bill, according to the press release, “eliminates the border security language of the Senate-passed bill and replaces it with language drafted by Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS).”
The bill is expected to be released in a couple of days. Here is an eight-page summary of the bill from Representative Xavier Becerra’s office Download New Democrat Coalition CIR Bill Summary. For an even shorter summary, click here Download New Democrat Coalition CIR Bill One Page or see below.
BORDER SECURITY, ECONOMICOPPORTUNITY AND IMMIGRATION MODERNIZATION ACT
Pre-Titleand Title I: Border Security
Titleone of the bill and its preamble address issues of border security. Itestablishes the security goals that must be achieved within 5 years, including“operational control” (90% illegal border crossing effectiveness rate) of hightraffic areas and of the southwest border. Metrics are established to measureillegal border crossing prevention, drug seizures, and other data. 3,500 additionalCBP officers will be hired. A plan to implement an entry-exit system must besubmitted. The title provides an alternate border security plan that includesrequired “triggers,” or goals that must be met, before the bill’s legalizationplan can be implemented.
Title II: Immigrant Visas
Thistitle addresses permanent legal status in the United States. It creates aRegistered Provisional Immigrant program for undocumented immigrants thatallows them to apply for citizenship in 13 years, after paying taxes andpenalties, passing criminal and security background checks, and maintainingemployment. Shorter paths to citizenship are provided for DREAMers (undocumentedyoung people brought to the U.S. as children) and for agricultural workers,with similar fees and security checks. This title also provides sufficientvisas to erase the current backlog of family and employment-based visaapplicants in the next 7 years, ensuring that no undocumented immigrant obtainspermanent resident status before others in line. The bill increases the numberof immigrant visas, increases visas for highly skilled workers in technicalfields, eliminates or changes some family-based immigration programs, andcreates a new merit-based system that is based on points accrued througheducation, employment, and family ties. A“W” visa is created for agricultural workers that is easier for U.S. employersto use and contains important protections for immigrant workers and U.S.workers.
TitleIII: Interior Enforcement
This title addresses DHS’s ability toenforce immigration laws while correcting procedural problems. Central to TitleIII is a phased in E-Verify employment eligibility verification program thatwill be mandatory for all employers in 5 years. Employers that hireunauthorized immigrants are subject to increased fines and criminal penalties. Thebill also addresses important refugee and asylum issues, enhances due-processprotections in the immigration courts,increases the oversight of detention facilities, and toughens penalties forgang-related convictions and other criminal offenses, such as drunkdriving.
TitleIV: Reforms to Nonimmigrant Visa Programs
This title reforms the nonimmigrantvisa programs for skilled workers and creates new programs for less-skilledworkers, investors, and visitors. The visa cap on the H-1B skilled-worker programis raised while worker wages and job protections are increased. A “W” nonimmigrantvisa for non-agricultural less-skilled workers is created that is easier foremployers to use and contains important worker protections. A new nonimmigrant investorvisa and an immigrant investor visa are also created to encourage foreigninvestment.
RCV