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Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 17:31:01 -0400 (EDT)
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From: Aliza Becker <azbecker@mindspring.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-ESL:5910] FW: Immigration Policy Update
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------ Forwarded Message
From: "Maurice Belanger" <Mbelanger@immigrationforum.org>
Reply-To: <Mbelanger@immigrationforum.org>
Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 17:11:32 -0400
To: <mauriceb@erols.com>
Subject: Immigration Policy Update
National Immigration Forum
Date: May 2, 2001
To: Forum Associate E-mail List
From: Maurice Belanger
Re: Immigration Policy Update
----------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
1. Bush Supports 245(i) Extension
2. Federal Register Notices from ORR, INS
3. Listen to Capitol Hill Hearings on the Internet
===============================================
1. PRESIDENT BUSH SUPPORTS 245(i) EXTENSION
On May 1st, President Bush sent a letter to the leadership of the House and
Senate, stating that he would support legislation to "temporarily" extend
the deadline for filing for Section 245(i). Mr. Bush said that he believes
our immigration policies should reflect a philosophy that government
policies should help strengthen families. The full text of the White House
letter is copied below.
Meanwhile, bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate to extend
the Section 245(i) deadline. In the Senate, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has
introduced a bill that would extend the deadline for one year. Thus far,
that bill has been co-sponsored by Sen. Chafee (R-RI), Sen. Clinton (D-NY),
Sen. Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. Kerry
(D-MA), Sen. Reid (D-NV), and Sen. Schumer (D-NY). In the House, bills have
been introduced by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) (H.R. 1242, to extend 245(i) for
six months), and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) (H.R. 1195, to extend 245(i) for
one year).
With the President coming out in favor of a Section 245(i) extension, our
chances of reopening Section 245(i) at some point this year (perhaps in the
very near future) are much improved. Washington-based advocates are
currently assessing the impact of the President's announcement and exploring
options for quickly moving legislation. The Forum will be sending
suggestions for action in the next few days.
TEXT OF THE WHITE HOUSE LETTER:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release May 1, 2001
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER AND DEMOCRATIC LEADER
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE MAJORITY AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS OF THE
SENATE
May 1, 2001
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. Leader:)
I am a strong proponent of government policies that recognize the importance
of families and that help to strengthen them. To the extent possible, I
believe that our immigration policies should reflect that philosophy. That
is why I support legislation to extend the window created under section
245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act during which qualified
immigrants may obtain legal residence in the United States without being
forced to first leave the country and their families for several years.
According to agency estimates, there are more than 500,000 undocumented
immigrants in the country who are eligible to become legal permanent
residents, primarily because of their family relationship with a citizen or
legal permanent resident. However, the law generally requires them to go
back to their home country to obtain a visa, and once they do so, they are
barred from returning to the United States for up to 10 years. Many choose
to risk remaining here illegally rather than to be separated from their
families for those many years. This issue has been the subject of
discussion in the Working Group that Attorney General Ashcroft and Secretary
of State Powell co-chair with officials of the Mexican government, and
should be addressed to ensure a more orderly, legal, and humane migration
flow between our countries.
I encourage the Congress to consider whether there was adequate time for
persons eligible under section 245(i) to apply for adjustment of status
before the filing deadline expired yesterday. Information indicates an
estimated 200,000 were eligible to file but did not meet the deadline.
Preliminary reports suggest that many applicants were unable to complete
their paperwork in time, due in part to the fact that the rules explaining
how the provision would be applied were not issued until late March. It
remains in our national interest to legitimize those resident immigrants,
eligible for legal status, and to welcome them as full participants of our
society. But we will only be able to do this if the path to legalization
encourages family reunification. For this reason, I would support
legislation that temporarily extends the recently expired April 30, 2001,
filing deadline, while maintaining the requirement that the applicant was
physically present in the United States on December 21, 2000.
I look forward to working with you on this important legislation.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
# # #
2. THREE IMMIGRATION-RELATED FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICES
It has come to my attention that many of the Forum's Associates on the
e-mail list would not be terribly dissapointed if they did not receive every
immigration-related Federal Register notice as they are published. I'll
admit the INS form notices will never make the best seller list.
Henceforth, the Forum will send summaries of the recent notices and
regulations that have been published, and tell you where you can get them.
Certain regulations and notices (for example, a notice of an extension of
TPS designation) will still be sent out on the day of publication, if
possible.
A. Refugee Resettlement Funding
On April 27th, the Office of Refugee Resettlement published a "Proposed
Notice of Allocations to States of FY 2001 Funds for Refugee Social Services
and Proposed Availability of Formula Allocation Funding for FY 2001 Targeted
Assistance Grants for Services to Refugees in Local Areas of High Need."
Here is the Summary: This notice establishes the proposed allocations to
States of FY 2001 funds for social services under the Refugee Resettlement
Program (RRP). In the final notice, allocation amounts could be adjusted
slightly based on final adjustments in FY 2000 arrivals in some States.
This notice includes $20.5 million in two set-aside funding allocations to:
(1) Provide outreach and referral services to ensure that eligible refugees
access the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)and other
programs for low income working populations and provide specialized
interpreter training and the hiring of interpreters to enable refugees to
have equal access to medical and legal services; and (2) provide outreach,
referral, and social services to ensure that persons granted asylum access
programs to help them attain economic self-sufficiency, as needed.
Comments are due May 29, 2001.
B. Refugee Resettlement Funding
Also on April 27th, ORR published a "Notice of proposed availability of
formula allocation funding for FY 2001 targeted assistance grants to States
for services to refugees in local areas of high need."
Summary: This notice announces the proposed availability of funds and award
procedures for FY 2001 targeted assistance grants for services to refugees
under the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP). These grants are for service
provision in localities with large refugee populations, high refugee
concentrations, and high use of public assistance, and where specific needs
exist for supplementation of currently available resources.
This notice continues the eligibility of those 50 counties located in 29
States that previously qualified for and received targeted assistance
program (TAP) grants beginning in FY 1999 as a result of the three-year
qualification process. The FY 2001 TAP formula allocations are based on the
same formula as in FY 1999, updated to reflect arrivals during the five-year
period from FY 1996 through FY 2000.
Comments are Due May 29, 2001.
C. Immigration Form at OMB for Approval
On May 1st, the INS announced it has a form pending the Office of Management
and Budget's approval, "Application for authorization to issue health care
certificates." The data collected on this form is used by the Service to
determine eligibility of an organization to issue certificates to foreign
health care workers. The comment period on this form has been extended for
30 additional days, until May 31.
The above notices can be found by going to the Federal Register search page
at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html
3. LISTEN TO CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON YOUR COMPUTER
If you already miss reading those Federal Register notices, here's something
that might provide a satisfying substititue: C-Span has recently begun to
broadcast Congressional hearings over the internet. Point your browser to
www.CapitolHearings.org and follow the instructions.
The next scheduled hearing that might interest you will be in the Senate
Immigration Subcommittee, chaired by Sam Brownback (R-KS). The topic is
"Immigration: An Overview of Asylum Policy." The hearing will take place
Thursday, May 4th at 2:00 PM.
==============================
Maurice Belanger
Senior Policy Associate
National Immigration Forum
E-Mail: mbelanger@immigrationforum.org
Web: http://www.immigrationforum.org
------ End of Forwarded Message
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