Keeping Families Together Act of 2009

The National Immigration Forum promotes immigration policy that will foster comprehensive solutions to the U.S. immigration crisis. In addition to general education on immigration matters, during the second quarter of 2009, Forum staff participated in numerous discussions regarding the need for comprehensive reform legislation during the 111th Congress, reform of detention practices, appropriations, and other legislative reforms affecting immigration. In addition, the Forum worked on immigration issues relating to the following bills: HOUSE HR 938 Keeping Families Together Act; To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to restore certain provisions relating to the definition of aggravated felony and other provisions as they were before the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.. HR 1215 Immigration Oversight and Fairness Act: To reform immigration detention procedures. HR 1751 DREAM Act: To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes. HR 2414 AgJOBS Act: To improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits, and security for aliens in the United States, and for other purposes. HR 2681 PROUD Act: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for naturalization for certain high school graduates. HR 2847 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act: Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. Funding for alternatives to detention programs and Executive Office of Immigration Review to provide more immigration judges and not for increasing number of immigration detention beds. HR 2892 Homeland Security Appropriations Act: Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. Funding for the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties within DHS and the USCIS Office of Immigrant Integration, not for the E-verify program beyond the Presidents budgeted request. SENATE S. 729 DREAM Act A bill to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes. S 1038 AgJOBS Act A bill to improve agricultural job opportunities, benefits, and security for aliens in the United States and for other purposes. S 1085 Reuniting Families Act: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote family unity, and for other purposes. S 1346 Crimes Against Humanity Act of 2009: A bill to penalize crimes against humanity and for other purposes. In opposition to Senate Amendments: SA 996 to S 386 To declare English as the national language of the U.S. SA 936 to S.Con. Res. 13 Withholding COPS funds from states and local law enforcement that maintain confidentiality policies regarding immigration status. SA 1066 to HR 627 Preventing US citizen and lawful immigrant consumers from obtaining credit cards. SA 1346 to S 1023 Mandating E-verify for federal contractors.