H1B Visa Lawyer Blog
The 112th congress which will begin its term on January 3, 2011 is likely to introduce many new proposals such as ones raising penalties for immigration related crimes, initiatives that make the removal of convicted immigrants easier, the enforcement of immigration law at state/local level, increased funding for border patrol, and increased inquiry into DHS practices. In the 112th Congress, Lamar Smith (R-TX) will most likely be named the Chair of House Judiciary Committee since he is already the current Ranking member and Steven King (R-IA) is also predicted to become the chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration.
Some of specific initiatives include expanding the 287(g) which allows local police officers to enforce federal immigration laws and policies, expanding Operation Streamline which is a program that already prosecutes first time border crossers, and making unlawful presence in the US a federal crime. Smith was also the founder of the Illegal Immigration Reform Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 which put into effect expedited removal of aliens that deprived them of a formal hearing before a judge, mandatory detention under 236 (c), as well as limitation of judicial review on final orders of removal. Smith also passed H.R. 4437 in the House on December 16, 2005 which would have implemented provisions such as: requiring DHS to hold all individuals seized at ports along the border until they were deported or admitted to the US, creating a single-judge certification process for removal orders review, and expanding the definition of aggravated felony.