NASULGC: Senate Passes Comprehensive Immigration Bill

From the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges Congressional Affairs Staff: Senate Passes Comprehensive Immigration Bill

After two weeks of floor debate, the Senate passed this evening S. 2611, the comprehensive immigration reform legislation, by a vote of 62 to 36.

On the floor yesterday, the Senate agreed to an amendment offered by Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that would reallocate two-thirds of “diversity” visas to those with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math. Many expressed concerns that this would change the intent of the diversity program and would discriminate against individuals from less developed countries.

During today’s debate, the Senate adopted an amendment offered by Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) that changed the provisions regarding the annual cap on employment-based green cards. The language of the underlying legislation would have raised the cap on such green cards to 450,000 per year through FY2016 and exempted spouses and children from the cap. The amendment, which was adopted by a vote of 51-47, would increase the cap to 650,000. However, it would also bring spouses and children back into the overall cap. Some have expressed concerns that the amendment may not alleviate the
backlogs that currently exist in the green card system as the result of the counting of spouses and children in the overall cap.

Finally, before final passage, the Senate agreed to a “manager’s amendment” to the underlying bill. NASULGC staff will report in greater detail about relevant provisions in the manager’s package and as well other provisions of interest in the bill as soon as possible.