Welcome all. Happy New Year!
Today is not about Republicans, today is not about Democrats, today is about the American people. Today starts a new year for the United States government, a new sunrise on this great nation and a new awareness for all American citizens.
This new Congress marks the "112th Congress" in history.
Republicans will have a 242-193 majority in the House and Democrats will have a 53-47 organizational majority in the Senate (includes 2 Independents). Just elected House Speaker John Boehner exclaimed today, "Welcome to the people’s House. Welcome to the 112th Congress."
The U.S. House of Representatives welcomes 96 new members today (87 Republicans and 9 Democrats). The United States Senate welcomes 16 new members.
IMMIGRATION TOP SPOT
(the top Immigration news story of the day)
State lawmakers take aim at Birthright Citizenship in what appears to be the first Immigration battle of the new year with conservative immigration-reduction groups going on the offense.
Pennsylvania State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County), founder of State Legislators for Legal Immigration (SLLI), along with state lawmakers and Constitutional scholars from across the nation convened in Washington D.C. today to unveil historic model legislation to correct the monumental misapplication of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This historic press conference was held on the same day as the swearing-in of the 112th Congress; encouraging that one of the first actions should be to uphold their oath and defend the Constitution to protect the states from the illegal alien invasion.
CONGRESS CHECK
(includes United States Senate and U.S. House of Representatives)
Congress will work this week, and over the next several weeks, on the ceremonial and organizational aspects of convening a new Congress. Little-to-no legislative action on specific immigration-related measures is expected to occur this week or next on Capitol Hill.
IMMIGRATION GPS
(what's happening across the country)
Florida. Following through on a campaign promise, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed four executive orders minutes after being sworn in, including one that requires all state agencies to use E-Verify. Florida joins a list of 13 other states that have mandatory E-Verify laws or executive orders in place.
Kentucky. As promised, Kentucky senate republicans filed a bill today they hope will crack down on illegal immigration. It came on the opening day of the legislative session. The bill calls for allowing police to arrest illegal immigrants on trespassing charges, simply for setting foot in Kentucky. The legislation would also make it illegal to harbor or transport illegal immigrants.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/05/2001154/kentucky-immigration-bill-is-stricter.html
Rhode Island. Governor Chafee made his second executive order on his first full day on the job Wednesday. Chaffee is not requiring his state and local businesses to check the immigration backgrounds of workers using the electronic program E-Verify. Chafee said E-Verify has caused anxiety in the Latino community and has not contributed to immigration reform.
http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2011/01/05/news/top_stories/doc4d248d6b992bb950591049.txt http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/05/2001154/kentucky-immigration-bill-is-stricter.html
Rhode Island. Governor Chafee made his second executive order on his first full day on the job Wednesday. Chaffee is not requiring his state and local businesses to check the immigration backgrounds of workers using the electronic program E-Verify. Chafee said E-Verify has caused anxiety in the Latino community and has not contributed to immigration reform.
New York. Three days before leaving office, Governor David A. Paterson re-signed a new Secure Communities agreement for the state. “This new agreement balances the homeland security and civil liberties issues that have surrounded the Secure Communities initiative,” Paterson said. Secure Communities enables law enforcement agencies to more easily share information about suspected illegal immigrants who have been arrested. When someone is arrested and booked, and their fingerprints are entered into a federal database, the arresting agency should then receive information related to that person’s residency status and also any information with regards to a person’s prior criminal record.
Colorado. Governor Bill Ritter signed an executive order for the state of Colorado to join ICE's Secure Communites program. The program, which operates through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), is now in place in 35 states. Started by President George W. Bush in 2008, the program may be mandatory in all states by 2013. Governor-elect John Hickenlooper says he supports the measure.
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17012396
Wyoming. A bill patterned after Arizona's tough immigration law will be introduced in the Wyoming legislative session that opens January 11, 2011.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_f5057dd0-ef7c-5b06-842e-8cd6d4f0b5cd.html
Oklahoma. State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, joined legislators from at least five other states today in Washington to announce plans to file bills making their states’ immigration laws the same or tougher than Arizona’s.
http://newsok.com/activists-decry-bills-about-immigration/article/3529463
Texas. The Texas legislature convenes next week in what is expected to be one of the toughest sessions ever. Local state representative Debbie Riddle was first in line to file an AZ-style immigration protection bill.
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/politics/110104-riddle-espinoza-debate-immigration
BORDER WARS
(news from the southern border states)
Mexican cartel violence prompts calls for bigger National Guard deployment along the border. In Nogalas, AZ on the dusty hilltops west of U.S. Interstate 19, National Guardsmen with M-4 rifles peer down from camouflage tents and surveillance posts, so close to the border fence they can almost watch TV through the windows of Mexican homes on the other side.
READING RIGHT NOW
(hot topics and other news)
Is Birthright Citizenship the Next Immigration Battlefield?
TOMORROW AND BEYOND
(looking forward)
President Obama will make his State of the Union Address within the next few weeks, he will submit his fiscal year 2012 budget to Congress during the second week of February, and the 112th Congress will have to complete consideration of the fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills before March 4.
Did we miss any Immigration related News in your State?
Comment below and let us know!
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