Washington, D.C. -  NIAC has confirmed that the Senate will consider various proposals for immigration reform later  in February  that will likely lack the strictest elements of Congressman Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) recently passed legislation, H.R. 4437 (See previous story).

Senate discussions have in the past few months revolved around two competing pieces of legislation by Senators Kennedy and McCain and Senators Kyl and Cornyn, respectively.  Given the Senate’s recent filibuster against the reauthorization of the Patriot Act, it is likely that the Senate proposals for immigration reform will not mimic the House’s recently passed resolution.

Several Senate staff members and advocacy groups corroborate reports that the Senate proposals for immigration will focus on the enforcement of border security and the potential for a guest worker program.  

It remains unclear whether the Senate proposals will include provisions in H.R. 4437 that stand to impact the Iranian-American community.

These provisions include stricter penalties for illegal immigrants and their families as well as the requirement for the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny entry to immigrants that refuse or unnecessarily delay a repatriation agreement with the United States.  Also the bill seeks to eliminate limits to the length of the detention of immigrants that were established in a 1991 Supreme Court decision.

If the Senate proposal for immigration reform differs significantly from H.R. 4437, the House and the Senate will likely meet in conference to resolve differences between their proposals.  NIAC will continue to monitor and report any new significant developments.
(In early 2006, NIAC will launch its Legislative Watch Program. The program, that will be headed by a full time Legislative Director based in Washington DC, will educate Iranian Americans through timely and detailed analysis of legislation, enable the Iranian-American community to advocate for its needs by building bridges with other like-minded organizations and Capitol Hill insiders, mobilize and engage Iranian Americans through NIAC’s CapWiz™ service, and finally, empower the Iranian-American community to advance its collective interests.)