Summary of Immigration Related Bills in Congress

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has posted the following summary of immigration-related bills that have been introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate during the months of September and October. AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 09110264 (posted Nov. 2, 2009)

New IDEA (Illegal Deduction Elimination Act) (H.R. 3580)
Introduced by Rep. King (R-IA) on 9/16/09

Summary: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to clarify that wages paid to unauthorized aliens may not be deducted from gross income, and for other purposes.

Improving Methods to Promote Regular Occurrences of the Verification of Employability Status Act of 2009 (H.R. 3676)
Introduced by Rep. Broun (R-GA) on 9/30/09

Summary: To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to make permanent the E-Verify Program, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3687
Introduced by Rep. Issa (R-CA) on 10/1/09

Summary: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program and to re-allocate those visas to certain employment-based immigrants who obtain an advanced degree in the United States

Dairy and Sheep H-2A Visa Enhancement Act (H.R. 3744)
Introduced by Rep. Arcuri (D-NY) on 10/7/09

Summary: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide a special rule for the period of admission of H-2A nonimmigrants employed as dairy workers and sheepherders, and for other purposes.

Fairness in Representation Act (H.R. 3797)
Introduced by Rep. Foxx (R-NC) on 10/13/09

Summary: To prevent congressional reapportionment distortions by requiring that, in the questionnaires used in the taking of any decennial census of population, a checkbox or other similar option be included for respondents to indicate citizenship status or lawful presence in the United States.

Every Person Counts Act (H.R. 3855)
Introduced by Rep. Baca (D-CA) on 10/20/09

Summary: To amend title 13, United States Code, to make clear that each decennial census, as required for the apportionment of Representatives in Congress among the several States, shall tabulate the total number of persons in each State, and to provide that no information regarding United States citizenship or immigration status may be elicited in any such census.