[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\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\See sections 328, 329 & 329A of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act.
    \2\See sections 1701-05 of Pub. L. No. 108-136.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    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\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \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 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\H.R. Rep. No. 106-1048 at 256-57 (2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    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.

                                  
