Legislative Bulletin

 

 

Hello y'all,

The National Immigration Forum's Legislative Bulletin for Friday,
February 9, 2024, is now posted.

You can find the online version of the bulletin
here: [link removed]

[link removed]

All the best,

Ally 

**LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN - Friday, February 9, 2024**Welcome to the
National Immigration Forum's weekly bulletin! Every Friday, our policy
team rounds up key developments around immigration policy in Washington
and across the country. The bulletin includes items on the legislative,
executive, and judicial branches, as well as some coverage at the state
and local levels. 

Here's a breakdown of the bulletin's sections:

DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION THIS WEEK

BILLS INTRODUCED AND CONSIDERED

LEGISLATIVE FLOOR CALENDAR

UPCOMING HEARINGS AND MARKUPS

GOVERNMENT REPORTS

SPOTLIGHT ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION FORUM RESOURCES

**DEVELOPMENTS IN IMMIGRATION THIS WEEK**Immigration policy is a dynamic
field subject to constant change. Here, we summarize some of the most
important recent developments in immigration policy on the federal,
legal, state, and local levels. 

Content warning: This section sometimes includes events and information
that can prove disturbing. 

****Federal****

**Bipartisan Senate Compromise Buckles Under Political Pressure, Biden
Considers Executive Action **On February 7, the Senate quickly blocked

a bipartisan compromise on immigration and border policy changes months
in the making, with only four Republicans voting to advance the package
that the GOP had initially called for as a trade-off for Ukraine aid. 

"I cannot imagine why any Republican supports this atrocious proposal,"
wrote Sen. J.D. Vance
(R-Ohio),
echoing public statements from some in the caucus.

The deal

included significant changes to border security in the United States,
such as a new expulsion authority at the U.S.-Mexico border and
provisions to heighten the standard for people to qualify for asylum.
But with the House showing no appetite
to take up the bill -
and amid pressure

from the former president, Donald Trump, to oppose the package - the
vast majority of Republican senators voted "no" on the compromise they
had once demanded. 

"Start putting your country before yourself," Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West
Virginia) said

after the motion to proceed on the deal failed by a 49-50 vote
.
"Quit worrying about being a Democrat or Republican getting reelected.
If you have to do this to get reelected, then you shouldn't want to
serve."

Now that the border proposal has fizzled, the Senate has moved on

to a narrower potential $95.34 billion piece of legislation that would
provide long-awaited aid to the U.S.'s foreign allies. At the same time,
President Biden is reportedly considering executive action to address
unauthorized migration at the border, according to NBC News
. 

**House Fails to Impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas Amid Widespread
Opposition from National Security Leaders, Legal Scholars**On February
6, the House of Representatives failed to impeach Homeland Security
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after three Republicans crossed party lines
to oppose the effort, which has been criticized by legal scholars