Immigration

2005

Craig Amendment S.A. 375 to AgJOBS H.R. 1268: To provide for the adjustment of status of certain foreign agricultural workers, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reform the H-2A worker program under that Act, to provide a stable, legal agricultural workforce, to extend basic legal protections and better working conditions to more workers, and for other purposes. The Motion to Invoke Cloture failed April 19th, 2005, 53-45-2. (Senate Vote #98)

Senator McCain: Yea                         Senator Obama: Not Voting

2006

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (S.2611). A bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes. Analysis by the National Immigrant Law Center. Passed May 25th, 2006, 62-36-2. (Senate Vote #157)

Senator McCain: Yea                         Senator Obama: Yea

Border Fencing (H.R. 6061) Although the Senate had previously desired a more comprehensive immigration reform, they agreed to go along with the House’s piecemeal approach to immigration in clearing the House legislation known as the “Secure Fence Act.”  Passed 80-19, September 29, 2006 (Senate Vote #262)

Senator McCain: Yea                         Senator Obama: Yea

2007

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S.1639). This bill would have provided legal status and a path to legal citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States; funded miles of vehicle barriers, camera and radar towers and 20,000 more Border Patrol agents; and, restructured visa criterion around highly skilled workers. The failure of the cloture vote effectively killed the bill. Analysis by the National Immigrant Law Center. Passed  June 28th, 2007, (Senate Vote #235)

Senator McCain: Yea                         Senator Obama: Yea

The Earned Income Tax Credit Amendment to S. 1348, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Amendment 1234 to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (CIRA) bars two CIRA-created categories of legally authorized immigrant workers-temporary workers with Y visas and formerly undocumented immigrants on the path to legalization with Z visas-from receiving the EITC until they are granted legal permanent resident status, a process that could take eleven years.

Created in 1975 and expanded during the 1990s, the EITC is critical to the efforts of low-wage workers to escape poverty and to make ends meet. This amendment would prolong the impoverishment of immigrants and their families even after they have an established legal right to live and work in the United States. Passed: 56-41-2, but died as a part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. (Senate Vote #192)

Senator McCain: Yea                         Senator Obama: Nay

DREAM Act (S. 2205), Motion to Invoke Cloture: This bill creates a path to permanent residency and citizenship for law-abiding undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and have completed at least two years of college or military service. This legislation affects the fifty to sixty thousand undocumented immigrant teenagers who graduate from high school yearly and whose access to higher education and legal employment is severely limited. The DREAM Act has appeared in many forms since 2001. This is the Senate’s cloture vote on a stand-alone version of the bill. Failed 52-44-4, October, 24th, 2007. (Senate Vote #394)

Senator McCain: Not Voting              Senator Obama: Yea

Bond Amendment, (S.A. 1934) to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1639). To prohibit green cards for Z(work) visa holders. Passed June 27, 2007, 57-40-3. (Senate Vote #231)

Senator McCain: Not Voting              Senator Obama: Yea

Dodd Amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1639). To increase visas for parents of U.S. citizens. Passed June 27th, 2007, 57-40-3 (Senate Vote #232)

Senator McCain: Not Voting              Senator Obama: Nay

Menendez-Obama-Feingold Amendment (S.A.1317) to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1639). In the un-amended bill, adult children of lawful permanent residents (LPRs), U.S. citizens, and siblings of U.S. citizens can only enter the U.S. if they have enough points under the new merit system; they could not get any points until they reach a 55 point threshold. This amendment removes the 55 point threshold, increases the number of points family members would receive, and rewards additional points to those who filed their family petition after the May 2005 cut-off date. Passed June 27th, 2007, 55-40-5 (Senate Vote #233).

Senator McCain: Not Voting              Senator Obama: Nay

Comments are closed.