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Senate Passes Immigration Reform Bill

On June 27, the Senate passed, 68-32, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744). The Senate began debate on the bill two weeks ago (see The Source, 6/21/13); the Judiciary Committee approved the bill on May 21.

The measure seeks to overhaul the immigration process by creating a path to citizenship, reforming the United States visa system, improving border security, and requiring employers to use the employment verification system known as E-Verify.

The bill would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to consider “humanitarian concerns,” such as human trafficking and sexual violence, or “family unit disruption” when determining whether to prosecute an illegal immigrant who has been detained. The legislation would allow “abused spouses and children of non-immigrant, temporary visa holders to apply for independent immigration status using the existing Violence Against Women Act self-petition process.”

The measure also would require Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel to be trained to address the needs of unaccompanied minor children. Child welfare personnel would assist CBP personnel in screening such children and would be placed in at least seven of the CBP stations with the largest numbers of unaccompanied minors.

The Government Accountability Office would be required to study the impact on women and families of the new merit-based immigration system.