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Senate Approves Border Bill
Posted
Apr 26, 2002
The
U.S. Senate approved the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act
of 2001 on April 18, 2002. [Since the Bill was originally introduced at the
end of 2001 it is referred to with that date.] In order for this bill to
become a law it must also pass in the House of Representatives (House) and
then be signed by the President. This bill (H.R. 3525) has strong support in
the House, which is expected to take the matter up in the near future.
Provisions of H.R. 3525 include stricter requirements for visa applications,
inspections at the border, and tracking of immigrants within the U.S.
The goal of the bill is to put protective measures into place within the
U.S. as well as beyond our borders in order to prevent terrorists from
entering the country. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has
expressed support for H.R. 3525, describing it as legislation that acts to
"isolate terrorism without isolating America."
The key provisions of H.R. 3525 include :
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Increased
staffing, funding, and training for the Immigration and Naturalization
Service (INS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS);
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Information
sharing by intelligence-gathering and law enforcement agencies with the
INS and DOS;
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Creation
of a "North America Security Perimeter" by working with Canada
and Mexico to coordinate law enforcement and share intelligence.
Immigration
advocates view this bill as an intelligent alternative to overly
restrictive, reactionary proposals. We will continue to follow this bill as
it has broad, bi-partisan support and is expected to become law shortly.
©
The
Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C.
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