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. The number of documents which may be presented by a new employee to prove work authorization has been reduced from 20 to six. The number of border patrol agents will be nearly doubled from 5,000 to 9,700.
Current law sets it at equal to or greater than the poverty rate.
The House bill says twice the poverty rate. The sponsor's income will be deemed to be part of the immigrant's income for purposes of qualifying for federal assistance within the first ten years of arrival or until the immigrant naturalizes to citizenship. The House bill is similar but varies the time limits depending on the relationship of the sponsor. The I-134 Affidavits of Support completed by the immigrant's sponsor will now be a legally binding document. Immigrants who receive more than a year of public assistance within the first five years of entry will be deportable.