[House Report 110-912]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-912
======================================================================
LANCE CORPORAL JOSE GUTIERREZ ACT OF 2008
_______
October 3, 2008.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Conyers, from the Committee on the Judiciary, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
DISSENTING VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 6020]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 6020) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to
protect the well-being of soldiers and their families, and for
other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as
amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
The Amendment.................................................... 2
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 5
Background and Need for the Legislation.......................... 5
Hearings......................................................... 7
Committee Consideration.......................................... 7
Committee Votes.................................................. 7
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 20
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................ 20
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 20
Performance Goals and Objectives................................. 21
Constitutional Authority Statement............................... 21
Advisory on Earmarks............................................. 21
Agency Views..................................................... 22
Section-by-Section Analysis...................................... 27
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 27
Dissenting Views................................................. 33
The Amendment
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez Act of
2008''.
SEC. 2. FACILITATING NATURALIZATION FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL.
(a) In General.--Any person who served honorably as a member of the
Armed Forces in support of contingency operations (as defined in
section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code) shall be eligible
for naturalization pursuant to section 329 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1440) as if the person had served during a
period designated by the President under such section 329.
(b) Naturalization Through Service in the Armed Forces of the United
States.--Section 328 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1439) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``six months'' and
inserting ``one year'';
(2) by striking subsection (c);
(3) in subsection (d), by striking ``six months'' and
inserting ``one year''; and
(4) by redesignating subsections (d), (e), and (f) as
subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively.
SEC. 3. FACILITATING REMOVAL OF CONDITIONAL STATUS FOR MILITARY
PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES.
(a) Period for Filing Petition.--Section 216(d)(2) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1186a(d)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subparagraph (B),''
and inserting ``subparagraphs (B) and (D),''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Filing of petitions during military service.--
In the case of an alien who is serving as a member of
the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or in an
active-duty status in the military, air, or naval
forces of the United States during the 90-day period
described in subparagraph (A), the alien may file the
petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) during the 6-month
period beginning on the date on which the alien is
discharged from such service.''.
(b) Requirements of Timely Petition and Interview for Removal of
Condition.--Section 216(c)(1)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1186a(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``or serving in the
Armed Forces at the time of the interview'' after ``deceased''.
SEC. 4. FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN INITIATING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL OR VETERANS.
Section 239 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1229a)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f)(1) A notice to appear shall not be issued against an alien who
served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United States,
and who, if separated from such service, separated under honorable
conditions, without prior approval from the Director of the United
States Citizenship and Immigration Services or the Assistant Secretary
of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
``(2) In determining whether to issue a notice to appear against such
an alien, the Director or the Assistant Secretary shall consider the
alien's eligibility for naturalization under section 328 or 329, as
well as the alien's record of military service, grounds of
deportability applicable to the alien, and any hardship to the Armed
Services, the alien, and his or her family if the alien were to be
placed in removal proceedings.
``(3) An alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces
of the United States, and who, if separated from such service,
separated under honorable conditions, shall not be removed from the
United States under subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(iii) of section
235(b)(1), section 238, or section 241(a)(5).''.
SEC. 5. DISCRETIONARY RELIEF FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL,
VETERANS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS IN REMOVAL
PROCEEDINGS.
(a) Grounds of Inadmissibility.--Section 212 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182) is amended by inserting after
subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Military Service Personnel and Family Members.--
``(1) In general.--With respect to an alien who served
honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United States,
and who, if separated from such service, separated under
honorable conditions, or an alien who is the spouse, child,
son, daughter, parent, or minor sibling of a member serving in
the Armed Forces of the United States--
``(A) paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B)
of subsection (a) shall not apply;
``(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the
Attorney General, shall not waive--
``(i) subsection (a)(2)(B), if the alien
actually was incarcerated for 5 years or more
for the offenses described in such subsection;
``(ii) subparagraph (C), (D), (G), or (H) of
subsection (a)(2);
``(iii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E), or
(F) of subsection (a)(3);
``(iv) subsection (a)(6)(E);
``(v) subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection
(a)(10); or
``(vi) subsection (a)(10)(D), if the alien
has received a conviction, award, compromise,
settlement, or injunction for an offense
described in clause (i) of such subsection, and
if the court finds that the alien did not
reasonably believe at the time such violation
that the alien was a citizen; and
``(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the
Attorney General, may waive any other provision of
subsection (a).
``(2) Waiver factors.--In making a determination under
paragraph (1)(C), the following factors may be considered:
``(A) The grounds of inadmissibility applicable to
the alien.
``(B) The alien's service in the United States
military, or the degree to which the alien's removal
would affect a close family member who is serving or
has served in the Armed Forces.
``(C) The length of time the alien has lived in the
United States.
``(D) The degree to which the alien would be impacted
by his or her removal from the United States.
``(E) The existence of close family ties within the
United States.
``(F) The degree to which the alien's removal would
adversely affect the alien's United States citizen, or
lawful permanent resident, parents, spouses, children,
sons, daughters, or siblings.
``(G) The alien's history of employment in the United
States, including whether the alien has been self-
employed or has owned a business.
``(H) The degree to which the alien's removal would
adversely affect the alien's United States employer or
business.
``(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to the
alien's community in the United States or has
contributed to the Nation through community, volunteer,
or other activities.''.
(b) Grounds of Deportability.--Section 237 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(d) Military Service Personnel and Family Members.--
``(1) In general.--With respect to an alien who served
honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United States,
and who, if separated from such service, separated under
honorable conditions, or an alien who is the spouse, child,
son, daughter, parent, or minor sibling of a member serving in
the Armed Forces of the United States--
``(A) paragraphs (1)(D), (3)(A), and (5) of
subsection (a) shall not apply;
``(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the
Attorney General, shall not waive--
``(i) subsection (a)(1)(E);
``(ii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii), if the alien
actually was incarcerated for 5 years or more
for the offenses described in such subsection;
``(iii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(iii), if the
aggravated felony involved was an offense
described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D),
(E)(i), (H), (I), (K)(i), (K)(ii), (K)(iii),
(L)(i), (L)(ii), (L)(iii), (M)(ii), (R), (S),
or (U) of section 101(a)(43);
``(iv) clause (iv) or (v) of subsection
(a)(2)(A);
``(v) clause (i) or (ii) of subsection
(a)(2)(D);
``(vi) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iii), if the
offense is a violation of the Trading With the
Enemy Act;
``(vii) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iv), if the
offense is a violation of section 278;
``(viii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C)(i), (D),
or (E) of subsection (a)(4); or
``(ix) subsection (a)(6)(A), if the alien has
received a conviction, award, compromise,
settlement, or injunction for an offense
described in such subsection, and if the court
finds that the alien did not reasonably believe
at the time such violation that the alien was a
citizen; and
``(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the
Attorney General, may waive any other provision of
subsection (a).
``(2) Waiver factors.--In making a determination under
paragraph (1)(C), the following factors may be considered:
``(A) The grounds of deportability applicable to the
alien.
``(B) The alien's service in the United States
military, or the degree to which the alien's removal
would affect a close family member who is serving or
has served in the Armed Forces.
``(C) The length of time the alien has lived in the
United States.
``(D) The degree to which the alien would be impacted
by his or her removal from the United States.
``(E) The existence of close family ties within the
United States.
``(F) The degree to which the alien's removal would
adversely affect the alien's United States citizen, or
lawful permanent resident, parents, spouses, children,
sons, daughters, or siblings.
``(G) The alien's history of employment in the United
States, including whether the alien has been self-
employed or has owned a business.
``(H) The degree to which the alien's removal would
adversely affect the aliens United States employer or
business.
``(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to the
alien's community in the United States or has
contributed to the Nation through community, volunteer,
or other activities.''.
SEC. 6. TIMELY REUNIFICATION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR NUCLEAR
FAMILIES.
Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(F) Aliens who are eligible for an immigrant visa under
paragraph (2)(A) of section 203(a) and are either the spouse or
child of an alien who is serving in the Armed Forces of the
United States.''.
SEC. 7. RELIEF FOR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS OF ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall adjust the
status of an alien described in subsection (b) to that of an alien
lawfully admitted for permanent residence if the alien--
(1) applies for such adjustment, and is physically present in
the United States on the date the application is filed;
(2) is admissible to the United States as an immigrant,
except as provided in subsection (d); and
(3) pays a fee, as determined by the Secretary, for the
processing of such application.
(b) Eligible Aliens.--
(1) In general.--The benefits provided in subsection (a)
shall apply only to an alien who is a parent, spouse, child,
son or daughter, or minor sibling of an eligible member of the
Armed Forces, as defined in subsection (c).
(2) Posthumous benefits.--An alien described in paragraph (1)
shall continue to be eligible for adjustment under this section
for 2 years after the death of an eligible member of the Armed
Forces whose death was the result of injury or disease incurred
in or aggravated by his or her service in the Armed Forces.
(c) Eligible Members of the Armed Forces.--In this section,
``eligible member of the Armed Forces'' means any person who--
(1) is serving or has served honorably as a member of the
Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or in an active-duty
status in the military, air, or naval forces of the United
States during a period beginning February 28, 1961, and ending
on a date designated by the President by Executive order as of
the date of termination of the Vietnam hostilities, or
thereafter during any other period which the President by
Executive order shall designate as a period in which Armed
Forces of the United States are or were engaged in military
operations involving armed conflict with a hostile foreign
force; and
(2) if separated from the service described in paragraph (1),
was separated under honorable conditions.
(d) Waiver of Certain Grounds of Inadmissibility.--For the purpose of
adjustment of status under this section:
(1) Paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of
section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1182(a)) shall not apply.
(2) The Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney
General, shall not waive the following provisions of section
212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182):
(A) Subsection (a)(2)(B), if the alien actually was
incarcerated for 5 years or more for the offenses
described in such subsection.
(B) Subparagraph (C), (D), (G), or (H) of subsection
(a)(2).
(C) Subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (E), or (F) of
subsection (a)(3).
(D) Subsection (a)(6)(E).
(E) Subparagraph (A) or (C) of subsection (a)(10).
(F) Subsection (a)(10)(D), if the alien has received
a conviction, award, compromise, settlement, or
injunction for an offense described in clause (i) of
such subsection, and if the court finds that the alien
did not reasonably believe at the time such violation
that the alien was a citizen.
(3) The Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Attorney
General, may waive any other provision of section 212(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) for
humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is
otherwise in the public interest.
Purpose and Summary
To ensure U.S. military readiness, H.R. 6020 addresses
immigration problems that distract active-duty soldiers in
battle, as well as veterans, and their immediate families.
Background and Need for the Legislation
According to retired Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez,
the former military commander for ground forces in the Iraq
War, ``[w]e should not continue to allow our citizenship laws
and immigration bureaucracy to put our war-fighting readiness
at risk.'' In addition, Lt. Gen. Sanchez stated, ``[w]hen
soldiers have to worry about their families, individual
readiness falters--which can lead to degradation in unit
effectiveness and the risk of mission failure.''
The Congressional Research Service reports that more than
45,000 non-citizens were serving in the United States Armed
Forces (Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, National Guard,
Reserves) as of March 2007. In addition, many U.S. citizens
serving in the military have close non-citizen family members.
Such individuals represent a significant portion of U.S. Armed
Forces, and they often face daunting and complex immigration
law and procedure.
The following identifies some of the more common
immigration problems experienced by our fighting men and women,
as well as their families. These and other problems are
addressed by H.R. 6020.
CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS
Under current law, an individual who receives permanent
residence based on his or her marriage to a U.S. citizen has a
condition placed on his or her ``green card'' if the couple has
been married for less than 2 years at the time that the non-
citizen spouse becomes a permanent resident. The conditional
permanent resident and the U.S. citizen spouse must then file a
joint petition within 90 days of the 2-year anniversary of the
date on which the spouse obtained residency, and they must
attend an in-person interview to remove the condition.
To meet these legal requirements, active duty personnel are
often required to take time off from their military mission. In
addition, due to constant movement required by the U.S.
military, they often fail to receive timely notice of further
action from the agency handling the immigration matters,
thereby exposing them to further stress of failing to meet
legal requirements that could place them or their families in
deportation proceedings.
For example, Airman Karla Rivera, a conditional permanent
resident who is currently serving in the Navy, was in training
when she was supposed to file the petition to remove the
condition on her permanent residence. When she consulted the
Naval Legal Service Office after she completed boot camp, she
was told that she should apply for U.S. citizenship based on
her military service rather than file for removal of condition.
In the meantime, United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) terminated her conditional permanent residence
and placed Airman Rivera in removal proceedings.
Despite the fact that she had to move from California to
Virginia as a result of being posted to a ship docked in
Norfolk, she had to appear at an Immigration Court in
California, rather than in Virginia. Furthermore, although she
was eligible for U.S. citizenship based on her military
service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) refused to terminate her removal proceedings and let
USCIS adjudicate her naturalization application until she was
scheduled to testify before the Committee's Subcommittee on
Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and
International Law. Airman Rivera finally became a U.S. citizen
on May 27, 2008, a week after she testified before the
Subcommittee about her immigration problems.
U.S. CITIZEN SOLDIERS WITH UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY MEMBERS
Under current law, undocumented spouses, children, parents,
or young siblings of U.S. citizen soldiers have no way to gain
legal status in the United States. Even if an immigrant visa is
available for such a family member, they must first leave the
country to apply for and receive an extreme hardship waiver,
which may or may not be granted. Furthermore, even if such a
waiver is granted, the family member must wait outside the
United States while the waiver is being processed, which can
take a year or longer. If the waiver is denied, the family
member will normally be barred from coming to the United
States, in any status, for 10 years. The family member may be
permanently barred if they are also subject to other grounds of
inadmissibility that arise from their undocumented status.
Army Specialist Angel Rodriguez describes the problems he
faced in serving our nation as a soldier while his undocumented
wife was facing potential deportation: ``I joined the Army and
I take pride in what I do, . . . [b]ut it's hard being away and
defending a country that doesn't want your family.'' Another
soldier married to a woman who entered the country illegally
when she was just 5 years old said, ``If I'm willing to die for
the United States, why can't I just be allowed to be with my
family?"
Most U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident soldiers
with close family members who are inadmissible or deportable
lack the opportunity to demonstrate how they would be impacted
were their families deported or unable to join them in the
United States. For example, Christine Navarro, a U.S. citizen
aircraft commander pilot with the U.S. Air Force, has been
permanently separated from her husband, Jose Navarro, since
November 2006, because the American Consulate in Ciudad Juarez
denied his application for an immigrant visa based on an oral
claim to U.S. citizenship that he made years ago. She told the
Committee that she was having a hard time choosing between her
duty to her nation and her duty to her family.
She is now a de facto single parent, taking care of their
3-year-old son with cerebral palsy and flying missions to the
Persian Gulf without the help of her husband, who is now living
in Mexico. There is no waiver available for Captain Navarro and
her family, despite the personal and professional impact it is
having on her and on her U.S. citizen child.
LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT SOLDIERS AND VETERANS
As a result of the restrictions enacted in 1996, many non-
citizens who become deportable can no longer apply for relief
from deportation based on the individual equities in their
cases, even for soldiers and their families who are distracted
from their military mission when faced with potential
deportation.\1\ This is the case even for long-term lawful
permanent residents who are serving or have served in the U.S.
military.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\P.L. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214 (Apr. 24, 1996); P.L. 104-193, 110
Stat. 2105 (Aug. 22 1996)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For example, Joe Desire, a lawful permanent resident for
more than 40 years, served in the military and was deployed to
Vietnam in the 1970's. While in the military, he developed a
drug problem that led to drug-related convictions. Mr. Desire,
however, overcame his addiction and has been clean of drugs for
more than 10 years. He now has four U.S. citizen sons, two of
whom are serving in the military. Despite his rehabilitation
and his service to this country, as well as the service of his
sons, he faces mandatory deportation to Haiti without an
opportunity to go before an Immigration Judge to appeal for
discretionary relief.
Hearings
The Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship,
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law held 1 day of
hearings on the ``Immigration Needs of America's Fighting Men
and Women'' on May 20, 2008. The Subcommittee received
testimony from Lt. Col. Margaret Stock (Military Police Corps,
U.S. Army Reserve); Airman Karla Rivera (U.S. Navy); Capt.
Christine Navarro (U.S. Air Force); Lt. Gen. (retired) Edward
Baca, on behalf of the American GI Forum; and Mark Seavey,
Assistant Director of the National Legislative Commission,
American Legion.
Committee Consideration
On July 31, 2008, the Subcommittee on Immigration,
Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
met in open session and ordered the bill H.R. 6020 favorably
reported, with an amendment, by a vote of 6 to 3, a quorum
being present. On September 10 and 17, 2008, the Committee met
in open session to consider H.R. 6020, and on September 17
ordered the bill favorably reported with an amendment, by a
rollcall vote of 16 to 12, a quorum being present.
Committee Votes
In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the
following rollcall votes occurred during the Committee's
consideration of H.R. 6020:
1. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to strike section 5 of
the bill, which permits eligible soldiers, honorably discharged
veterans, and close family members to apply for discretionary
waivers of certain grounds of inadmissibility or deportability.
Failed by a vote of 13-17.
ROLLCALL NO. 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott.......................................................
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee................................................. X
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt.................................................... X
Mr. Wexler...................................................... X
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner......................................................
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis....................................................... X
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon......................................................
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney...................................................... X
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 13 17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to strike Subsection
3(a) of the bill, which prior to an amendment offered by Ms.
Lofgren and accepted by voice vote, would have exempted
soldiers with conditional permanent residence from having to
remove the condition on their permanent residence. Failed by a
vote of 13-15.
ROLLCALL NO. 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott.......................................................
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee................................................. X
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler...................................................... X
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman..................................................... X
Ms. Baldwin.....................................................
Mr. Weiner......................................................
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis....................................................... X
Ms. Wasserman Schultz...........................................
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon......................................................
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney...................................................... X
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 13 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
deportable for a domestic violence conviction or violation of a
protection order. Failed by a vote of 8-15.
ROLLCALL NO. 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman......................................................
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters...................................................... X
Mr. Delahunt.................................................... X
Mr. Wexler...................................................... X
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson.....................................................
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman..................................................... X
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff......................................................
Mr. Davis....................................................... X
Ms. Wasserman Schultz...........................................
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble.......................................................
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren.....................................................
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller......................................................
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes......................................................
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan......................................................
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 8 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
inadmissible for a crime involving moral turpitude or a
controlled substance violation, or deportable for more than one
criminal conviction. Failed 8-15.
ROLLCALL NO. 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman......................................................
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt.................................................... X
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson.....................................................
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren.....................................................
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller......................................................
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes......................................................
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan......................................................
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 8 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
deportable for an offense that involves fraud or deceit in
which the loss exceeds $10,000. Failed by a vote of 7-10.
ROLLCALL NO. 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman......................................................
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters...................................................... X
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen.......................................................
Mr. Johnson.....................................................
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz...........................................
Mr. Ellison.....................................................
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren.....................................................
Mr. Cannon......................................................
Mr. Keller......................................................
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes......................................................
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks......................................................
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan......................................................
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 7 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. An amendment offered by Mr. Issa to require active-duty
Reserve members to petition for removal of condition on their
permanent residence if they are in training at the time that
they must file the petition to remove the condition. Failed by
a vote of 8-15.
ROLLCALL NO. 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman......................................................
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters...................................................... X
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson.....................................................
Ms. Sutton...................................................... X
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison.....................................................
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren.....................................................
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller......................................................
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes......................................................
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan......................................................
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 8 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
deportable for an offense relating to a failure to appear by a
defendant for service of sentence where the underlying offense
is punishable by imprisonment of five or more years. Failed by
a vote of 10-12.
ROLLCALL NO. 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler......................................................
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez...................................................
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff......................................................
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly....................................................
Mr. Goodlatte...................................................
Mr. Chabot......................................................
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon......................................................
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney...................................................... X
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 10 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
deportable for a gambling offense. Failed by a vote of 11-13.
ROLLCALL NO. 8
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler......................................................
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee................................................. X
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez...................................................
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff......................................................
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte...................................................
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon......................................................
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert..................................................... X
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 11 13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
deportable for a theft or burglary offense for which the term
of imprisonment is at least 1 year. Failed by a vote of 11-15.
ROLLCALL NO. 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler......................................................
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee................................................. X
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt.................................................... X
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff......................................................
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte...................................................
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon......................................................
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert..................................................... X
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 11 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
deportable for a crime of violence for which the term of
imprisonment is at least 1 year. Failed by a vote of 11-15.
ROLLCALL NO. 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman......................................................
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler......................................................
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee................................................. X
Ms. Waters...................................................... X
Mr. Delahunt.................................................... X
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff......................................................
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison.....................................................
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte...................................................
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks...................................................... X
Mr. Gohmert..................................................... X
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 11 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. An amendment offered by Mr. Lungren to deny benefits
under this bill to veterans who were discharged ``under
honorable conditions'' by replacing the term with ``with an
honorable discharge.'' Failed by a vote of 12-15.
ROLLCALL NO. 11
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller......................................................
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks......................................................
Mr. Gohmert..................................................... X
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 12 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. An amendment offered by Mr. Smith to allow soldiers and
veterans to be deported from the United States without first
being able to appear before an Immigration Judge. Failed by a
vote of 11-17.
ROLLCALL NO. 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks......................................................
Mr. Gohmert..................................................... X
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 11 17
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. The Committee considered an amendment offered by Mr.
Issa to deny benefits under this bill to parents, children over
21, and minor siblings of U.S. soldiers and veterans. Failed by
a vote of 10-16.
ROLLCALL NO. 13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler......................................................
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters......................................................
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler...................................................... X
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin..................................................... X
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks......................................................
Mr. Gohmert.....................................................
Mr. Jordan......................................................
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 10 16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. An amendment offered by Mr. King to bar soldiers,
veterans, and their immediate family members from applying for
individualized consideration of their cases if the applicant is
inadmissible for not having relevant documentation at the time
of admission to the United States or having accrued unlawful
presence in the United States. Failed by a vote of 11-16.
ROLLCALL NO. 14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters...................................................... X
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin.....................................................
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren.....................................................
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks......................................................
Mr. Gohmert..................................................... X
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 11 16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. The Committee reported the bill favorably to the House
by a vote of 16-12.
ROLLCALL NO. 15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayes Nays Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman...................................... X
Mr. Berman...................................................... X
Mr. Boucher.....................................................
Mr. Nadler...................................................... X
Mr. Scott....................................................... X
Mr. Watt........................................................ X
Ms. Lofgren..................................................... X
Ms. Jackson Lee.................................................
Ms. Waters...................................................... X
Mr. Delahunt....................................................
Mr. Wexler......................................................
Ms. Sanchez..................................................... X
Mr. Cohen....................................................... X
Mr. Johnson..................................................... X
Ms. Sutton......................................................
Mr. Gutierrez................................................... X
Mr. Sherman.....................................................
Ms. Baldwin.....................................................
Mr. Weiner...................................................... X
Mr. Schiff...................................................... X
Mr. Davis.......................................................
Ms. Wasserman Schultz........................................... X
Mr. Ellison..................................................... X
Mr. Smith, Ranking Member....................................... X
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr...........................................
Mr. Coble....................................................... X
Mr. Gallegly.................................................... X
Mr. Goodlatte................................................... X
Mr. Chabot...................................................... X
Mr. Lungren..................................................... X
Mr. Cannon...................................................... X
Mr. Keller...................................................... X
Mr. Issa........................................................ X
Mr. Pence.......................................................
Mr. Forbes...................................................... X
Mr. King........................................................ X
Mr. Feeney......................................................
Mr. Franks......................................................
Mr. Gohmert..................................................... X
Mr. Jordan...................................................... X
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 16 12
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the
descriptive portions of this report.
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does
not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax
expenditures.
Committee Cost Estimate
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate of the costs
of implementing H.R. 6020 as reported by the Committee on the
Judiciary was not available as of the time of filing this
report. Nor was any useful agency estimate of these costs
available.
In compliance with clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee estimates the
costs as follows:
Cost to the Federal Government
The Committee does not anticipate that the bill will have
any significant effect on the Federal budget in terms of the
immigration cases themselves. The bill would simply make
additional persons eligible to apply for individualized
consideration of their immigration cases. The Committee expects
that the cases of those who do so apply can be handled with
existing resources.
Data as to the number of beneficiaries who would be
eligible to, and who would elect to, apply for the immigration
benefits provided under the bill is not available. However, the
Committee believes that the bill may increase certain costs to
the Federal Government relating to programs in which legal
immigrants and citizens may become eligible to participate.
These costs would recur annually and indefinitely, and could be
expected to vary from year to year, and to be offset, partially
or fully, by increased income tax revenue as the persons
involved become legally entitled to work in the United States.
It is not practicable, at this time, to estimate the net costs
to the Federal Government.
Performance Goals and Objectives
The Committee states that pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H.R.
6020 will alleviate some of the most common and recurring
immigration problems that are affecting military readiness of
the U.S. Armed Forces. It would do so by ensuring that active-
duty soldiers serving honorably, veterans who have been
honorably discharged, and their close family members do not
face problems with applying for naturalization, that they have
an opportunity to bring and keep their families together, and
they do not face unnecessary and insurmountable obstacles in
deportation proceedings.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for
this legislation in article 1, section 8, clause 4 of the
Constitution.
Advisory on Earmarks
In accordance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, H.R. 6020 does not contain any
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI.
Section-by-Section Analysis
The following discussion describes the bill as reported by
the Committee.
Sec. 1. Short title. Section 1 sets forth the short title
of the bill as the ``Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez Act of
2008.''
Sec. 2. Facilitating Naturalization for Military Personnel.
Section 2 of the bill amends section 329 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA) to allow soldiers who have served
honorably in dangerous operations not covered by a Presidential
Executive Order to naturalize under the wartime naturalization
provision of the INA. Section 2 also amends section 328 of the
INA to give soldiers 1 year (rather than 6 months under current
law) after their honorable discharge to apply for citizenship
under the peacetime naturalization provision.
Sec. 3. Facilitating Removal of Conditional Status for
Military Personnel and Their Families. Section 3 amends INA
section 216 to allow conditional permanent resident soldiers to
wait until they are honorably discharged before having to
remove the condition on their permanent residence. For U.S.
citizen soldiers who are married to conditional permanent
residents, section 3 also amends INA section 216 to exempt
these soldiers from having to appear at an in-person interview
for their spouses' removal of condition.
Sec. 4. Factors to Consider in Initiating Removal
Proceedings Against Active Duty Military Personnel or Veterans.
Section 4 codifies a United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement memorandum on procedures for placing soldiers or
veterans in removal proceedings. If they are placed in removal
proceedings, they must be given the opportunity to appear
before an Immigration Judge before being ordered deported.
Sec. 5. Discretionary Relief for Active Duty Military
Personnel, Veterans, and Family Members in Removal Proceedings.
Section 5 amends INA sections 212 and 237 to permit soldiers,
honorably discharged veterans, and their close family members
to apply for a discretionary waiver of certain grounds of
inadmissibility or deportability. They would have to
demonstrate their eligibility for such relief based on a multi-
factor test.
Sec. 6. Timely Unification of Military Personnel and Their
Nuclear Families. Section 6 facilitates the reunification of
lawful permanent resident soldiers with their spouses and/or
minor children by making immigrant visas immediately available
for these family members.
Sec. 7. Relief for Immediate Family Members of Active Duty
Personnel. Section 7 allows an undocumented parent, spouse,
child, or minor sibling of U.S. citizen or lawful permanent
resident soldiers and certain veterans to apply for permanent
residence.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change
is proposed is shown in roman):
IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE II--IMMIGRATION
Chapter 1--Selection System
worldwide level of immigration
Sec. 201. (a) * * *
(b) Aliens Not Subject to Direct Numerical Limitations.--
Aliens described in this subsection, who are not subject to the
worldwide levels or numerical limitations of subsection (a),
are as follows:
(1)(A) * * *
* * * * * * *
(F) Aliens who are eligible for an immigrant visa
under paragraph (2)(A) of section 203(a) and are either
the spouse or child of an alien who is serving in the
Armed Forces of the United States.
* * * * * * *
Chapter 2--Qualifications for Admission of Aliens; Travel Control of
Citizens and Aliens
* * * * * * *
GENERAL CLASSES OF ALIENS INELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE VISAS AND INELIGIBLE
FOR ADMISSION; WAIVERS OF INADMISSIBILITY
Sec. 212. (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Military Service Personnel and Family Members.--
(1) In general.--With respect to an alien who served
honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United
States, and who, if separated from such service,
separated under honorable conditions, or an alien who
is the spouse, child, son, daughter, parent, or minor
sibling of a member serving in the Armed Forces of the
United States--
(A) paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and
(9)(B) of subsection (a) shall not apply;
(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or
the Attorney General, shall not waive--
(i) subsection (a)(2)(B), if the
alien actually was incarcerated for 5
years or more for the offenses
described in such subsection;
(ii) subparagraph (C), (D), (G), or
(H) of subsection (a)(2);
(iii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C),
(E), or (F) of subsection (a)(3);
(iv) subsection (a)(6)(E);
(v) subparagraph (A) or (C) of
subsection (a)(10); or
(vi) subsection (a)(10)(D), if the
alien has received a conviction, award,
compromise, settlement, or injunction
for an offense described in clause (i)
of such subsection, and if the court
finds that the alien did not reasonably
believe at the time such violation that
the alien was a citizen; and
(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or
the Attorney General, may waive any other
provision of subsection (a).
(2) Waiver factors.--In making a determination under
paragraph (1)(C), the following factors may be
considered:
(A) The grounds of inadmissibility applicable
to the alien.
(B) The alien's service in the United States
military, or the degree to which the alien's
removal would affect a close family member who
is serving or has served in the Armed Forces.
(C) The length of time the alien has lived in
the United States.
(D) The degree to which the alien would be
impacted by his or her removal from the United
States.
(E) The existence of close family ties within
the United States.
(F) The degree to which the alien's removal
would adversely affect the alien's United
States citizen, or lawful permanent resident,
parents, spouses, children, sons, daughters, or
siblings.
(G) The alien's history of employment in the
United States, including whether the alien has
been self-employed or has owned a business.
(H) The degree to which the alien's removal
would adversely affect the alien's United
States employer or business.
(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to
the alien's community in the United States or
has contributed to the Nation through
community, volunteer, or other activities.
* * * * * * *
conditional permanent resident status for certain alien spouses and
sons and daughters
Sec. 216. (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Requirements of Timely Petition and Interview for Removal
of Condition.--
(1) In general.--In order for the conditional basis
established under subsection (a) for an alien spouse or
an alien son or daughter to be removed--
(A) * * *
(B) in accordance with subsection (d)(3), the
alien spouse and the petitioning spouse (if not
deceased or serving in the Armed Forces at the
time of the interview) must appear for a
personal interview before an officer or
employee of the Service respecting the facts
and information described in subsection (d)(1).
* * * * * * *
(d) Details of Petition and Interview.--
(1) * * *
(2) Period for filing petition.--
(A) 90-day period before second
anniversary.--Except as provided in
[subparagraph (B),] subparagraphs (B) and (D),
the petition under subsection (c)(1)(A) must be
filed during the 90-day period before the
second anniversary of the alien's obtaining the
status of lawful admission for permanent
residence.
* * * * * * *
(D) Filing of petitions during military
service.--In the case of an alien who is
serving as a member of the Selected Reserve of
the Ready Reserve or in an active-duty status
in the military, air, or naval forces of the
United States during the 90-day period
described in subparagraph (A), the alien may
file the petition under subsection (c)(1)(A)
during the 6-month period beginning on the date
on which the alien is discharged from such
service.
* * * * * * *
Chapter 4--Inspection, Apprehension, Examination, Exclusion, and
Removal
* * * * * * *
GENERAL CLASSES OF DEPORTABLE ALIENS
Sec. 237. (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(d) Military Service Personnel and Family Members.--
(1) In general.--With respect to an alien who served
honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of the United
States, and who, if separated from such service,
separated under honorable conditions, or an alien who
is the spouse, child, son, daughter, parent, or minor
sibling of a member serving in the Armed Forces of the
United States--
(A) paragraphs (1)(D), (3)(A), and (5) of
subsection (a) shall not apply;
(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or
the Attorney General, shall not waive--
(i) subsection (a)(1)(E);
(ii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(ii), if the
alien actually was incarcerated for 5
years or more for the offenses
described in such subsection;
(iii) subsection (a)(2)(A)(iii), if
the aggravated felony involved was an
offense described in subparagraph (A),
(B), (C), (D), (E)(i), (H), (I),
(K)(i), (K)(ii), (K)(iii), (L)(i),
(L)(ii), (L)(iii), (M)(ii), (R), (S),
or (U) of section 101(a)(43);
(iv) clause (iv) or (v) of subsection
(a)(2)(A);
(v) clause (i) or (ii) of subsection
(a)(2)(D);
(vi) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iii), if
the offense is a violation of the
Trading With the Enemy Act;
(vii) subsection (a)(2)(D)(iv), if
the offense is a violation of section
278;
(viii) subparagraph (A), (B), (C)(i),
(D), or (E) of subsection (a)(4); or
(ix) subsection (a)(6)(A), if the
alien has received a conviction, award,
compromise, settlement, or injunction
for an offense described in such
subsection, and if the court finds that
the alien did not reasonably believe at
the time such violation that the alien
was a citizen; and
(C) the Secretary of Homeland Security, or
the Attorney General, may waive any other
provision of subsection (a).
(2) Waiver factors.--In making a determination under
paragraph (1)(C), the following factors may be
considered:
(A) The grounds of deportability applicable
to the alien.
(B) The alien's service in the United States
military, or the degree to which the alien's
removal would affect a close family member who
is serving or has served in the Armed Forces.
(C) The length of time the alien has lived in
the United States.
(D) The degree to which the alien would be
impacted by his or her removal from the United
States.
(E) The existence of close family ties within
the United States.
(F) The degree to which the alien's removal
would adversely affect the alien's United
States citizen, or lawful permanent resident,
parents, spouses, children, sons, daughters, or
siblings.
(G) The alien's history of employment in the
United States, including whether the alien has
been self-employed or has owned a business.
(H) The degree to which the alien's removal
would adversely affect the aliens United States
employer or business.
(I) The degree to which the alien has ties to
the alien's community in the United States or
has contributed to the Nation through
community, volunteer, or other activities.
* * * * * * *
INITIATION OF REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS
Sec. 239. (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(f)(1) A notice to appear shall not be issued against an
alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed Forces of
the United States, and who, if separated from such service,
separated under honorable conditions, without prior approval
from the Director of the United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services or the Assistant Secretary of Homeland
Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(2) In determining whether to issue a notice to appear
against such an alien, the Director or the Assistant Secretary
shall consider the alien's eligibility for naturalization under
section 328 or 329, as well as the alien's record of military
service, grounds of deportability applicable to the alien, and
any hardship to the Armed Services, the alien, and his or her
family if the alien were to be placed in removal proceedings.
(3) An alien who served honorably at any time in the Armed
Forces of the United States, and who, if separated from such
service, separated under honorable conditions, shall not be
removed from the United States under subparagraph (A)(i) or
(B)(iii) of section 235(b)(1), section 238, or section
241(a)(5).
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION
* * * * * * *
Chapter 2--Nationality Through Naturalization
* * * * * * *
naturalization through service in the armed forces of the united states
Sec. 328. (a) A person who has served honorably at any time
in the Armed Forces of the United States for a period or
periods aggregating one year, and who, if separated from such
service, was never separated except under honorable conditions,
may be naturalized without having resided, continuously
immediately preceding the date of filing such person's
application, in the United States for at least five years, and
in the State or district of the Service in the United States in
which the application for naturalization is filed for at least
three months, and without having been physically present in the
United States for any specified period, if such application is
filed while the applicant is still in the service or within
[six months] one year after the termination of such service.
* * * * * * *
[(c) In the case such applicant's service was not continuous,
the applicant's residence in the United States and State or
district of the Service in the United States, good moral
character, attachment to the principles of the Constitution of
the United States, and favorable disposition toward the good
order and happiness of the United States, during any period
within five years immediately preceding the date of filing such
application between the periods of applicant's service in the
Armed Forces, shall be alleged in the application filed under
the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, and proved at
any hearing thereon. Such allegation and proof shall also be
made as to any period between the termination of applicant's
service and the filing of the application for naturalization.]
[(d)] (c) The applicant shall comply with the requirements of
section 316(a) of this title, if the termination of such
service has been more than [six months] one year preceding the
date of filing the application for naturalization, except that
such service within five years immediately preceding the date
of filing such application shall be considered as residence and
physical presence within the United States.
[(e)] (d) Any such period or periods of service under
honorable conditions, and good moral character, attachment to
the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and
favorable disposition toward the good order and happiness of
the United States, during such service, shall be proved by duly
authenticated copies of the records of the executive
departments having custody of the records of such service, and
such authenticated copies of records shall be accepted in lieu
of compliance with the provisions of section 316(a).
[(f)] (e) Citizenship granted pursuant to this section may be
revoked in accordance with section 340 if the person is
separated from the Armed Forces under other than honorable
conditions before the person has served honorably for a period
or periods aggregating five years. Such ground for revocation
shall be in addition to any other provided by law, including
the grounds described in section 340. The fact that the
naturalized person was separated from the service under other
than honorable conditions shall be proved by a duly
authenticated certification from the executive department under
which the person was serving at the time of separation. Any
period or periods of service shall be proved by duly
authenticated copies of the records of the executive
departments having custody of the records of such service.
* * * * * * *
Dissenting Views
Congress has long sought to facilitate the naturalization
of non-citizens serving in the Armed Forces. In fact, our
immigration laws have long contained three special
naturalization provisions just for service members.\1\ Then,
after Congress learned that some of the members of the military
who died in combat during ``Operation Iraqi Freedom'' were not
United States citizens, Congress acted to provide enhanced
benefits to permanent resident service members and their
families.\2\
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\1\See sections 328, 329 & 329A of the Immigration and Nationality
Act.
\2\See sections 1701-05 of Pub. L. No. 108-136.
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However, this bill is about a much different proposition.
It is not about easing the naturalization of U.S. service
members and providing substantive immigration benefits to the
family members of service members killed in action. Rather,
this bill is about granting amnesty and relief from the
consequences of committing many serious crimes to most aliens
who have ever served in the United States military--no matter
how briefly or long ago they served. These immigration benefits
also go to alien family members (spouses, minor children, adult
sons and daughters, parents and even minor siblings) of persons
now serving in the military or who have served in the military
during times of conflict.
The American people are opposed to amnesty for lawbreakers.
The American people want criminal aliens deported and our
communities made safe. Unfortunately, this bill is on the wrong
side of the American people.
When we look at an American soldier or veteran we almost
always see someone who has made a sacrifice to uphold the
American Constitution and the rule of law. This bill cheapens
that image, and does a disservice to the vast majority of our
non-citizen soldiers and their family members who have abided
by the law.
This bill is opposed by the American Legion. The National
Commander of the American Legion stated that:
On behalf of 2.7 million members of the American
Legion, I am writing in opposition to H.R. 6020 . . .
[T]he center point for disagreement with this measure
is our unequivocal opposition to granting amnesty to
those residing illegally in the United States.
Fundamental to our position is the distinction that
must be made between . . . [legal] and . . . [illegal]
immigrants. H.R. 6020 would reward non-citizen law
breakers and undocumented immigrants with a short cut
to citizenship that is nothing less than an official
pardon for illegal acts: an amnesty. . . . Non-citizen
service members' relatives who have entered the U.S.
illegally or overstayed a visa or who may be fugitives
from justice deserve no special adjustment. . . . No
special pardon, no reprieve from lawlessness, no
exoneration for bad behavior is given to the citizen
soldier or their family because one wore the uniform of
the United States military. . . . The American Legion
remains adamantly opposed to the granting of pardons to
illegal aliens.\3\
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\3\Letter from Martin Conatser, National Commander, the American
Legion, to Steve King, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Immigration,
Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, House
Judiciary Committee (July 30, 2008).
The bill grants immigration judges the ability to waive the
grounds of inadmissibility and deportability for serious
crimes, overturning a key policy change Congress made in 1996
to enhance public safety. The benefits of this bill extend to
aliens who have committed serious crimes decades after
separating from the service and to alien family members of
persons serving or who have served in the military. The bill
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provides waivers for:
Lcrimes of moral turpitude,
Lcrimes of domestic violence, stalking and
child abuse,
Lcrimes of violence for which term of
imprisonment was at least one year,
Lcrime of theft for which term of imprisonment
was at least one year,
Lfraud offenses in which the loss to the
victim was over $10,000,
Lcontrolled substance crimes,
Lreturning to the U.S. after having previously
departed the U.S. under immunity for having committed a
serious criminal offense,
Lgambling offenses and investing racketeering
profits in businesses which are engaged in interstate
commerce,
Lpassport and visa counterfeiting for which
the term of imprisonment was at least one year,
Lfailure to appear for service of a criminal
sentence, and
Lfailure to appear before a court to answer
for a felony.
We must remember that information this Committee received
from the Justice Department under subpoena revealed that 37% of
criminal aliens whom the former Immigration and Naturalization
Service released were subsequently convicted of another crime
in the U.S.\4\
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\4\H.R. Rep. No. 106-1048 at 256-57 (2001).
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This bill creates a perverse incentive for persons to
intentionally enter the military for the express purpose of
procuring amnesty or relief from the immigration consequences
of serious crimes for themselves or for their extended family
members. This is not what service to our country is all about.
Finally, providing immigration benefits to extended-family
members of immigrants, such as adult children and siblings,
simply encourages rampant chain migration. With chain
migration, one anchor immigrant eventually facilitates the
immigration of many relatives increasingly distantly related to
them. As the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform chaired by
Barbara Jordan found, there is no compelling national interest
in the immigration of extended-family members.
Lamar Smith.
Elton Gallegly.
Ric Keller.
Darrell Issa.
Steve King.