Immigration amendments hit on security, Obamacare and more
Before the full Senate will vote on the comprehensive immigration reform bill crafted by the bipartisan "gang of eight," the Senate Judiciary Committee will take a crack at improving it -- and they have plenty of improvements to consider.
On Thursday, the committee will begin considering the hundreds of amendments submitted by committee members this week. The amendments touch on a range of issues, from improving immigration law enforcement and protecting the domestic economy to helping special classes of immigrants and regional needs.
Amending the bill in committee gives the opportunity for senators to weigh in on the thorny subject of immigration reform, but it also leaves the bill vulnerable to changes that could dissolve the bipartisan support it currently enjoys.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a member of the "gang of eight," said Wednesday he is "guardedly optimistic" that reform can pass, but he warned that "compromises were made" to produce a comprehensive proposal, "and if there are efforts made to destroy that delicate compromise then it could fall apart."
Here's a look at just a few of the amendments:
Helping certain immigrants
Family members: Amendment from Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Ha., "To authorize United States citizens and permanent residents to sponsor up to 2 members of their extended family to immigrate to the United States if they have not previously sponsored any other family members."
Married couples, gay or straight: Amendment from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., "To recognize, for purposes of the Immigration and Nationality Act, any marriage entered into in full compliance with the laws of the State or foreign country within which such marriage was performed."
Domestic violence victims: Amendment from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., "To provide immigration status for certain battered spouses and children."
Cracking down on undocumented immigrants
Closing the path to citizenship: Amendment from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, "To provide that no person who has previously been willfully present in the United States while not in lawful status shall be eligible for United States citizenship."
Criminals: Amendment from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, "To ensure that serious criminals, including domestic abusers, child abusers, and drunk drivers, are not eligible for registered provisional immigrant status."
Deportation: Amendment from Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, "To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to commence removal proceedings against an alien who is ineligible for registered provisional immigrant status."
Economic issues
Domestic labor: Amendment from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, "To exclude certain employment of domestic service from the prohibitions on unlawful employment of unauthorized aliens."
Lee's office explained to CBSNews.com that the intention of this amendment is to exempt certain small-scale "employers" from having to verify their employees with E-Verify. For instance, a gardening company would have to verify its employees, but a person hiring a neighbor to mow his lawn would be exempt. Furthermore, the law would still require "employers" to hire only those legally allowed to work in the U.S.
Taking jobs: Amendment from Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., "To prohibit the admission of an alien as a W- 1 or W-2 nonimmigrant if the unemployment rate is 5 percent or more."
The W Visa program admits low-skilled workers into the country.
Obamacare: Amendment from Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, "To provide for the application of a 5-year waiting period for certain eligibility for tax credits and cost sharing subsidies under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
Government assistance: Amendment from Sessions, "To prohibit an alien from becoming a registered provisional immigrant if the Secretary determines it is likely that the immigrant would become a public charge or receive State means-tested assistance."
Security issues
Boston bombings: Amendment from Grassley, "To prohibit sections 3401, 3404, and 4401(a), and the amendments made by such sections, from taking effect until 1 year after the Director of National Intelligence submits to Congress a review related of the Boston Marathon bombings."
These sections refer to provisions granting asylum to refugees.
DNA testing: Amendment from Hatch, "To collect a DNA sample from each adult alien applying for registered provisional immigrant status for comparison against the Combined DNA Index System of the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
Information sharing: Amendment from Grassley, "To require the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Commissioner of Social Security to jointly establish a program to share information about unauthorized aliens."
