The bill largely covers illegal immigrant issues, but contains several important provisions affecting legal immigrants. This drastic provision means that anyone who entered the US illegally is ineligible for suspension of deportation and would be subject to summary exclusion proceedings. Suspension of deportation is a form of relief which allows certain persons in deportation proceedings who have been in the US at least seven years, have no criminal history and whose deportation would cause hardship to adjust to permanent residency. These provisions are scheduled to take effect beginning this August. Provisions in the immigration laws which allow for the waiving of deportation for certain aliens with a criminal conviction are toughened.
Aliens arriving without documents or with false documents are subject to summary exclusion.
If the person is seeking asylum, the person must pass a credible fear screening. There would be no hearing or judicial review. If the credible fear screening is passed, the applicant would only get an interview with an asylum officer, not a hearing before a judge. The Senate has passed the Simpson Immigration bill by a 97-3 margin. The bill mainly contains provisions affecting illegal immigration, but it also contains new rules for sponsoring immigrants.