Editor's Comments of the Day

In a White House press release President Clinton has threatened to veto the appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State if Congress does not pass the "Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act." The provision of LIFA which is the target of the most criticism is the advancement of the registry date to 1986. Critics of the bill claim that providing and amnesty will only encourage more illegal immigration. The Republicans in the Senate and House were able to outmaneuver the Democrats in getting the H-1B bill passed. If President Clinton follows through on his threat to in effect shut down the government, who would suffer the most? When the Republicans tried to do it several years ago, they were the losers. Is Clinton willing to take the risk of a voter backlash so close to an election? How close will he come to shutting down the government? Close, but no cigar....

Congressional News of the Day

House Passes Act for the Relief of Certain Persian Gulf Evacuees
The House of Representatives agreed to the Senate amendment of H.R. 3646, for the relief of certain Persian Gulf evacuees, and passed the bill.

House Signs Enrolled Immigration Bills
The Speaker of the House signed H.R. 2961, the "International Patient Act of 2000," H.R. 4068, the "Religious Workers Act of 2000,"and H.R. 5234, which amends the "Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000."

Rep. Metcalf Addresses the House
Rep. Metcalf addressed the House regarding accomplishments during his tenure and voiced his concerns for the future of the US among which are the lack of commitment by the government to stopping illegal immigration, the problem that the labor movement no longer acknowledges that the level of immigration in the last few years has driven down wages for working people and that the environmental movement is ignoring that the rate of immigration with its accompanying high birth rate, will result in a population of about 450 million Americans by the year 2050.

Conference Report on the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2001
During the debate of the conference report of H.R. 4811, which makes appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the FY2001, the immigration status of certain aliens from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos was discussed.

INS News of the Day

Clinton Issues Veto Threat
In a press release from the White House President Clinton stated he would veto the appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State if Congress does not pass the "Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act."

Immigration News of the Day

INS Rules Pose Catch-22 for Adoptee
An article in the Los Angeles Times discusses the dilemma faced by many illegal immigrants who are afraid to leave the US in order to possibly obtain immigration status for fear of the 1996 law which states that illegal immigrants could be barred from returning home for as long as 10 years if they leave the country.

Texas DAs Refuse Border Patrol Cases
The Christian Science Monitor reports that starting this month border district attorneys have been refusing federal drug-smuggling cases due to the staggering number of cases and the cost.

National Academies' National Research Council Report on Hi-Tech Workers
A lengthy report from the National Academies' National Research Council finds that the high-tech labor squeeze defies a single solution.