Source: http://immigrationreform.com/2013/04/26/part-iii-gang-of-eight-breaks-promise-to-bar-criminals-from-receiving-amnesty/
Timestamp: 2017-08-18 08:57:17
Document Index: 526583014

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 800', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 130', '§ 130', '§ 135', '§ 260', '§ 176', '§ 177', '§ 158', '§ 220', '§3701', '§ 3702', '§3711', '§3709', '§3709', '§3709', '§3701']

Part III: Gang of Eight Breaks Promise to Bar Criminals from Receiving Amnesty | ImmigrationReform.com
Part III: Gang of Eight Breaks Promise to Bar Criminals from Receiving Amnesty
Posted by Guest Opinion | Apr 26, 2013 | Border Security, Crime, Federal, Law & Justice, Politics, Population, Society | 9 |
A close analysis of the Senate Gang of Eight’s Amnesty bill (S.744) shows that its authors have broken their promise to bar criminals from receiving amnesty, called “registered provisional immigrant” status (RPI status).
At first, S.744 appears to prohibit most criminals from receiving amnesty under the bill. The bill provides that an illegal alien is ineligible for RPI status if he/she:
Has a conviction for a felony;
Has a conviction for an aggravated felony, as defined under 101(a)(43);
Has a conviction for 3 or more misdemeanors (other than minor traffic offenses) if the alien was convicted on different dates for each of the offenses (Sec. 2102(b)(3)(B)(i));
Has a conviction for any offense under foreign law that if committed in the U.S. would render the alien inadmissible or removable under the INA
Has a conviction for unlawful voting under INA 237(a)(6); and
Is reasonably believed to be engaged in, or likely to engage in, terrorist activity (Sec. 2102(b)(3)(A)(iii)
(Sec. 2101, INA 245B(b)(3), p.61-66)
However, when one looks at the details, one sees that these bars do not apply a wide range of criminal conduct. First, the language provides that aliens with certain “convictions” are ineligible for RPI status. This means that anyone charged with the offense and released on bond is still eligible. It also means that juvenile aliens who committed egregious offenses will not be barred from eligibility, as they are technically “adjudicated delinquent” not “convicted” of a crime. Finally, barring aliens with convictions for certain crimes ignores the fact that many individuals will “plea down” their offenses in order to turn a felony conviction into a misdemeanor conviction or a misdemeanor conviction into a misdemeanor conviction with a lesser penalty.
Next, the bill contains a glaring loophole: it allows DHS to waive misdemeanor convictions for the purposes of determining eligibility for amnesty. Indeed S.744 allows DHS to waive multiple misdemeanor convictions.(Sec. 2101, p.65) And while most people’s knowledge of misdemeanor offenses relates to traffic violations, misdemeanors span a wide range of activity. In Florida, for example, misdemeanor crimes include:
Exposure of Sexual Organs; Fla. Stat. § 800.03.
Similarly, In Texas, misdemeanor crimes include:
In New York, misdemeanor crimes include:
Assault, New York Penal Law § 120.00;
Stalking, New York Penal Law § 120.45;
Forcible touching, New York Penal Law § 130.52;
Sexual abuse in the second degree, New York Penal Law § 130.60;
Unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, New York Penal Law § 135.05;
Endangering the welfare of a child, New York Penal Law § 260.10;
Insurance fraud in the fifth degree, New York Penal Law § 176.10;
Health care fraud in the fifth degree, New York Penal Law § 177.05;
Welfare fraud in the fifth degree, New York Penal Law § 158.05; and
Criminal possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material in the second degree, New York Penal Law § 220.70
S.744 also authorizes DHS to waive a broad array of criminal behavior for the purpose of determining admissibility, including convictions for:
Gang-related crimes (INA 212(a)(2)(F))(added to the INA by §3701)
Three or more drunk driving offenses (INA 212(a)(2)(J))(added to the INA by § 3702)
Domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and violation of protective orders (INA 212(a)(2)(K))(added to the INA by §3711)
Also for the purpose of determining admissibility, S.744 allows DHS to waive the following conduct, which does not require a conviction in order to make an alien inadmissible:
Committing crimes or of moral turpitude (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I));
Violating federal or state drug laws (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II));
Trafficking in passports (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(III))(added to the INA by §3709);
Providing fraudulent immigration services (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(III))(added to the INA by §3709);
Trafficking immigration documents, including document fraud (INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(III))(added to the INA by §3709);
Prostitution (INA 212(a)(2)(D)(i));
Gang membership (INA 212(a)(2)(F))(added to the INA by §3701);
Misrepresenting a material fact to procure visas or other immigration benefits (if done for any purpose other than submitting an amnesty application) (INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i));
Violating student visas (INA 212(a)(6)(G));
Falsely claiming citizenship (INA 212(a)(6)(C)(ii)); and
Illegally re-entering the U.S. after deportation (a felony)(INA 212(a)(9)(C).
When the Senate Gang of Eight unveiled S.744 at a press conference April 18th, they made repeated promises that illegal aliens applying for amnesty would have to undergo a criminal background check. While that may be true, a background check is only meaningful if aliens who committed serious crimes are actually barred from receiving amnesty and being placed on that pathway to citizenship. The specific text of the S.744, combined with its numerous waiver provisions, demonstrate that criminal illegal aliens will indeed be eligible for amnesty under the Gang of Eight plan.
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Susan Collins	on May 3, 2013 at 11:32 am
It is unbelievable that amount of time going into this debate. Illegal is Illegal. They broke the law when they came here – send them back. Anchor babies should be illegal as well. They were born here to illegal parents. We are being told that these immigrants take the jobs that Americans don’t want. simple solution, make long term (lifers) welfare recipients do these jobs and cut their checks and benefits. I am appalled that with good health insurance I must pay a large co-pay to be hospitalized while Mass Health patients get the full treatment for free at a cost to the taxpayer. We need to go back to earlier times – If a person(s) wants to come here, they must be sponsored by a working, taxpaying citizen with legitamate connections to the Person(s) seeking entry. Full background checks need to be done PRIOR to entry. It is insane that with all our technology to monitor people the Boston Marathon Bombing still occured. If someone is seeking asylum, why would they go back to the country they left for any period of time at all? Deport ALL Illegals. If they wish to come here, they should have to pay hefty fines to the US.
John Thiesfeld	on April 29, 2013 at 4:43 pm
This is going to be one of the biggest mistakes the United States will make if this Bill passes.
Can someone tell me what we can do to help prevent this ill-thought out legislation from passing? I have written and called the congressmen and representatives. What else can we do?
We are about to allow unemployment and terrorism in massive proportions happen if we dont stop this!
Ali	on April 29, 2013 at 11:43 am
So, they have to undergo a “criminal background check”. Does that include checks in their own countries and every country they’ve lived in? Just how would that be managed and who would pay for it?
John Winthrop	on April 29, 2013 at 1:16 am
You can always write your own Bill………………………………………some of your points are valid and others are not such that:
This means that anyone charged with the offense and released on bond is still eligible…………………..Remember INNOCENT until proven guilty…..by the time the 10 years are up they will be guilty or innocent if guilty they will not qualify…………………………………………it is like saying did you ever smoke pot or drove under the influence? well if never caught how can you apply the Law?……………………………
another one: violating student visas……………………………………..it is within the scope of being illegal so therefore they will qualify……
I think you are reading too much into it….and by doing so you lose focus on the issues at hand and their reality………………
softwarengineer	on April 29, 2013 at 11:10 am
Sounds like you just want to sweep everything under the rug for open borders….including our national security.
Ali	on April 29, 2013 at 11:46 am
John Winthrop, this administration is ALREADY letting illegal aliens remain here who have re-entered the US illegally after being deported. In fact, the mother and brother of a “Dreamer” activist have been allowed to remain here even though they, under the last provision above, are “inadmissible”. You really think that this administration will deport people once they have work permits, when it won’t deport them NOW? And what’s it going to do about the illegal aliens who came after the Dec. 2011 deadline? Think it’s going deport them?
No Amnesty	on April 27, 2013 at 2:57 pm
All we need from the Bill is SOME H1B workers, a Few AGRI workers…
And to Secure the Border…..and start Serious Deportations….
No Amnesty	on April 27, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Nobody knows WHAT their criminal record was in Mexico.
They have so Many Aliases…..no birth certificate….when processing
11-20 Million..at a cost of 2 trillion Taxpayer Dollars…..many criminals
will slip thru..or BRIBE their way into America..as they do now….a Relative
is the Processor at Motor Vehicles…and issues License to Illegal Alien.
You can BET there will be Thousands of serious criminals…like our GREEN
CARD BOMBER…walking freely around America…and collecting WELFARE.
This Bill is a HUGE P.O.S.
Diana Reichardt	on May 3, 2013 at 10:49 am
I still feel that amnesty is a slap in the face to those individual who have come to America thru legal channels. It is wrong to let just anyone in. Also why should People from Mexico qualify for special privileges?? They should all go back and go thru the procedures that have been in place all this time. I am sorry for them but no one made them do anything illegal, the CHOSE to!!!!
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