The following immigration-related bills were introduced into the House of Representatives and the Senate in July-August 2011 and summarized below by AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association):
Senate Bills
Immigration Fraud Prevention Act of 2011 – S. 1336
Introduced by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) on 7/7/11 Summary: Prevents immigration fraud by making it a Federal crime to defraud individuals in connection with any matter arising under immigration laws.
Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation (HALT) Act – S. 1380
Introduced by Sen. Vitter (R-LA) on 7/12/11 Summary: Suspends until Jan. 21, 2013 certain provisions of federal immigration law.
Trafficking in Persons Report Improvement Act of 2011 – S. 1362
Introduced by Sen. Webb (D-VA) on 7/13/11 Summary: Simplifies the Trafficking in Persons Report by reducing the number of country categories and ranking countries within each category according to their relative adherence to the minimum standards set forth in TVPA of 2000.
Helping Agriculture Receive Verifiable Employees Securely and Temporarily (HARVEST) Act of 2011 – S. 1384
Introduced by Sen. Chambliss (R-GA) on 7/19/11 Summary: Amends the INA to provide for the temporary employment of foreign agricultural workers.
Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for (HELP) Separated Children Act – S. 1399
Introduced by Sen. Franken (D-MN) on 7/21/11 Summary: Protects children affected by immigration enforcement actions.
S. 1405
Introduced by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) on 7/21/11 Summary: Private bill for the relief of Guy Privat Tape and Lou Nazie Raymonde Toto.
House Bills
H.R. 2805
Introduced by Rep. Lofgren (D-CA) on 8/5/11 Summary: Amends Section 220 of the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 to make permanent made by the section.
Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2011- H.R. 2730
Introduced by Rep. Bass (D-CA) on 8/1/11 Summary: Amends Part E of Title IV of the Social Security Act to better enable State child welfare agencies to prevent human trafficking of children and serve the needs of children who are victims of human trafficking.
Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation (HALT) Act – H.R. 2497
Introduced by Rep. Smith (R-TX) on 7/12/11 Summary: Suspends until Jan. 21, 2013 certain provisions of federal immigration law.
H.R. 2556
Introduced by Rep. Ryan (D-OH) on 7/15/11 Summary: Suspends the issuance of visas to nationals of Brazil until Brazil amends it laws to remove the prohibition on extradition of nationals of Brazil to other countries.
Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for (HELP) Separated Children Act – H.R. 2607
Introduced by Rep. Woolsey (D-CA) on 7/21/11 Summary: Protects children affected by immigration enforcement actions.
Military Families Act – H.R. 2638
Introduced by Rep. Filner (D-CA) on 7/25/11 Summary: Authorizes the adjustment of status for immediate family members of individuals who served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States during the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
Jobs for Americans Act of 2011 – H.R. 2670
Introduced by Rep. Brooks (R-AL) 7/27/11 Summary: Provides that States and local government may pass laws that identify illegal aliens, deter illegal aliens from entering the United States, apprehend illegal aliens, or encourage or otherwise cause illegal aliens to leave the United States.
H.R. 2556
Introduced by Rep. Ryan (D-OH) on 7/15/11 Summary: Prohibits the issuance of a visa to a citizen, subject, national, or resident of Brazil until Brazil has removed the prohibition on extradition of Brazilian nationals to other countries. The bill authorizes the President to waive such prohibition on a case-by-case basis if in the U.S. national interest.
Source: “AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 11082563 (posted Aug. 25, 2011)”