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U.S. Immigration Policy on Temporary Admissions

Description: This report begins with a discussion of the policy tensions surrounding temporary admissions. It follows with a synthesis of the nonimmigrant categories according to the purpose of the visa. It discusses the periods of admission and length of stay and then summarizes grounds for inadmissibility and removal as well as reasons for termination of status. It also describes the circumstances under which nonimmigrants may work in the United States. The second portion of the report analyzes trends in … more
Date: February 28, 2011
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration Reform Issues in the 111th Congress

Description: This report synthesizes the multi-tiered debate over immigration reform into key elements: legal; immigration; legalization; immigration control; refugees, asylees, and humanitarian migrants; and, alien rights, benefits and responsibilities.
Date: February 2, 2010
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Brief History of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Efforts in the 109th and 110th Congresses to Inform Policy Discussions in the 113th Congress

Description: This report opens with brief legislative histories of "comprehensive immigration reform" (CIR) in the 109th and 110th Congresses. A comparative overview of key CIR provisions in the three bills that received floor action in the 109th and 110th Congresses follows. In addition to a narrative discussion of how the bills addressed the main provisions of CIR, the report provides a table that presents a comparative summary of the key features of the bills. The report concludes with observations contr… more
Date: February 27, 2013
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Family-Based Immigration Policy

Description: This report provides an examination of family-based immigration policy. It outlines a brief history of U.S. policies, discusses current law governing admissions, and summarizes recommendations made by previous congressionally-mandated committees charged with evaluating immigration policy. It then presents descriptive figures on legal immigrants entering the United States during the past decade and discusses the sizable queue of approved immigrant petitioners waiting for an immigrant visa. It cl… more
Date: February 17, 2016
Creator: Kandel, William A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Border Security: Immigration Issues in the 108th Congress

Description: This report provides background information on the main immigration-related border security issues that have been raised as a result of the terrorist attacks and resulting concern for homeland security. It describes enacted legislation in the 107th Congress as well as in previous Congresses that focus on immigration-related border security issues. The report also poses possible immigration-related border security issues the 108th Congress may consider.
Date: February 4, 2003
Creator: Seghetti, Lisa M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant

Description: This report analyzes the special immigrant visas (SIVs) classifications for Iraqis and Afghans within the context of both the larger special immigrant category and selected other permanent admissions categories. It discusses the legislative changes to the individual Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant programs since their initial authorization, provides statistics on visa issuances, and considers challenges that have faced the programs.
Date: February 8, 2017
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alien Removals and Returns: Overview and Trends

Description: This report provides an overview of the statutory framework for alien removal and briefly describes the standard removal process. It also describes several streamlined forms of removal, and two alternative forms of removal (often referred to as returns) that exempt aliens from certain penalties associated with formal removal: voluntary departure and withdrawal of petition for admission. In addition, the report discusses recent trends in removals and returns, and concludes with a summary of pote… more
Date: February 3, 2015
Creator: Siskin, Alison
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: Analysis of the Major Provisions of H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act of 2005

Description: The 109th Congress is considering several issues carried over from the 108th Congress related to immigration enforcement and identification-document security. This report analyzes the major provisions of House-passed H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act of 2005. It describes relevant current law relating to immigration and document-security matters, how House-passed H.R. 418 would alter current law if enacted, and the degree to which the bill duplicates existing law.
Date: February 16, 2005
Creator: Garcia, Michael J.; Lee, Margaret M. & Tatelman, Todd
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Programs

Description: This report analyzes the special immigrant visas (SIVs) classifications for Iraqis and Afghans within the context of both the larger INA special immigrant category and selected other permanent admissions categories. It discusses the legislative changes to the individual Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant programs since their initial authorization, provides statistics on visa issuances, and considers challenges that have faced the programs.
Date: February 26, 2016
Creator: Bruno, Andorra
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 105th Congress

Description: Immigration legislation enacted and considered in the 105th Congress can be divided into three categories: (1) legislation prompted by the major immigration and welfare legislation enacted in the 104th Congress; (2) legislation in response to the expiration dates of existing provisions; and (3) legislation which addressed emerging new issues -- issues that the 104th Congress did not address, or issues that arose since then.
Date: February 12, 1999
Creator: Vialet, Joyce; Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Krouse, William J. & Eig, Larry M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Immigration Policy on Haitian Migrants

Description: This report discusses whether the balance should tip more toward humanitarian immigration policies as a consequence of the humanitarian crises that resulted from the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
Date: February 1, 2010
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: Adjustment to Permanent Residence Status under Section 245(i)

Description: Under § 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an alien in the U.S. who, on the basis of family relationship or job skills, becomes eligible for permanent resident status may adjust to that status in the United States without having to go abroad to obtain an immigrant visa. Historically, only those aliens who were here legally (e.g., as a student or a temporary skilled worker) could adjust status under § 245. In 1994, however, Congress enacted § 245(i). That provision, which was set to exp… more
Date: February 4, 1998
Creator: Eig, Larry M. & Krouse, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration Officer's Authority to Apprehend and Remove Aliens: Questions and Answers in Brief

Description: This report provides brief answers to some of the questions regarding immigration agents' authority to apprehend and remove aliens; these questions were raised by reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted enforcement actions in at least six states during the week of February 6, 2017.
Date: February 13, 2017
Creator: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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INS Reorganization Under the Homeland Security Act of 2002: Effective Dates and Dual Roles

Description: This report discusses the status of the dual roles provided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) upon the completion of the transfer of functions from INS to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This report also addresses the effective dates of the Act and their relation to INS and to the Reorganization Plans submitted by President Bush.
Date: February 4, 2003
Creator: Vina, Stephen R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The President's Immigration Accountability Executive Action of November 20, 2014: Overview and Issues

Description: This report discusses President Obama's Immigration Accountability Executive Action which revises some U.S. immigration policies and initiates several programs, including a revised border security policy for the Southwest border.
Date: February 24, 2015
Creator: Kandel, William A.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Bruno, Andorra & Siskin, Alison
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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President Trump's Executive Order on Suspending Entry of Select Foreign Nationals: The Seven Countries

Description: This report the executive order (EO) entitled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists Entry Into the United States." Invoking Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) §212(f), the President barred citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days, with limited exceptions for those traveling on diplomatic and certain other types of visas.
Date: February 1, 2017
Creator: Siskin, Alison
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: Analysis of the Major Provisions of H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act of 2005

Description: This report describes relevant current law relating to immigration and document-security matters, how H.R. 418 would alter current law if enacted, and the degree to which the bill duplicates existing law.
Date: February 2, 2005
Creator: Garcia, Michael J.; Lee, Margaret M. & Tatelman, Todd B.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Visa Issuances: Policy, Issues, and Legislation

Description: This report opens with an overview of visa issuances, with sections on procedures for aliens coming to live in the United States permanently and on procedures for aliens admitted for temporary stays. It includes a discussion of visa screening policies, including inadmissibility, databases, an analysis of visa refusals, biometric visas and other major visa policy procedures. Summaries of key laws revising visa policy enacted in the 107th Congress follows. The final section analyzes selected issu… more
Date: February 11, 2004
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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U.S. Immigration Policy on Permanent Admissions

Description: This report discusses the four major principles underlie current U.S. policy on permanent immigration: the reunification of families, the admission of immigrants with needed skills, the protection of refugees, and the diversity of admissions by country of origin.
Date: February 29, 2008
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Expedited Citizenship Through Military Service: Current Law, Policy, and Issues

Description: This report gives an overview of the history of naturalization based on military service, discusses current law and policy, analyzes data on noncitizens in the military today and prior to the enactment of P.L. 108- 136, and discusses current legislative proposals and related issues.
Date: February 25, 2009
Creator: Lee, Margaret Mikyung & Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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