Terre Logsdon – Record-Bee staff
House of Representa-tives bill 4437, The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control of 2005, also known as the ?Sensebrenner Bill,? sponsored by Jim Sensenbrenner (R ? WI), was passed by the House on Dec. 16, 2005, and has sparked waves of protests across the nation. The bill is currently under consideration by United States Senate, after amendment by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The most contentious provisions of the bill include deporting all of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S., classifying illegal aliens as felons ? and anyone who assists them in remaining in the U.S. as a felon ? including charities, church groups or neighbors and increasing fines on companies that employ illegal aliens.
There are three Senate Bills dealing with immigration reform and border control ? S.2611 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006) S.2612 (Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006) and S.2454 (Securing America?s Borders Act) which are all similar to the House bill, but with one stark difference ? A bipartisan Senate group reached an accord in early April that would give current illegal immigrants a chance for citizenship without being deported.
Under the accord, as many as 8 million undocumented workers who can prove that they have been in the country for five years or more before the legislation is enacted would be granted a renewable work visa, after they pay a $2,000 penalty and any back taxes, and undergo a criminal background check, according to the report by the Washington Post. After five years, the accord states that they could apply for citizenship if they remain employed, learn English and do not commit crimes.
For those immigrants who have been in the U.S. Fewer than than five years but more than two, the Washington Post reports that the estimated 2.8 million illegal immigrants would have three years to return to border town apply for one of 450,000 green cards that will be available each year.
Those who have been in the county two years or less would have to return to their home country under this accord.
Other provisions of H.R. 4337 include:
* Requires up to 700 miles of fence along the U.S.-Mexican border at points with the highest number of illegal crossings.
* Requires the federal government to take custody of illegal aliens detained by local authorities. This would end the practice of ?catch and release,? where federal officials sometimes instruct local law enforcement to release detained illegal aliens because resources to prosecute them are not available. It also reimburses local agencies in the 29 states along the border for costs related to detaining illegal aliens.
* Mandates employers to verify workers? legal status through electronic means, phased in over several years. Also requires reports to be sent to Congress one and two years after implementation to ensure that it is being used.
* Eliminates the ?Diversity Immigrant Visa,? also known as the ?Green Card Lottery? program.
* Incorporates satellite communications between immigration enforcement officials.
* Requires all U.S. Border Patrol uniforms to be made in the U.S. to avoid forgeries.
* Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report to Congress on the number of illegal immigrants ? other than those from Mexico ? that are apprehended and deported and the number of those from states that sponsor terror.
* Formalizes Congressional condemnation of rapes by smugglers along the border and urges Mexico to take immediate action to prevent them.
* All illegals, before being deported, must pay a fine of $3,000 if they agree to leave voluntarily but do not adhere to the terms of their agreement. The grace period for voluntary departure is shortened to 60 days.
* Requires the DHS to conduct a study on the potential for border fencing on the U.S. – Canadian border.
* Sets the minimum sentence for fraudulent documents at 10 years, fines, or both, with tougher sentencing in cases of aiding drug trafficking and terrorism.
Establishes a Fraudulent Documents Center within DHS.
Increases penalties for aggravated felonies and various frauds, including marriage fraud and document fraud.
Reimburses states aiding in immigration enforcement.
Housing of illegals will be considered a felony and subject to no less than 3 years in prison.
* Allows deportation of any illegal alien convicted of driving under the influence (DUI).
* Increases penalties for employing illegal aliens to $7,500 for first time offenses, $15,000 for second offenses, and $40,000 for all subsequent offenses.
* Refuses to accept immigrants from countries which delay or refuse to accept the foreign country?s citizens deported from the U.S.
States.
