H.R. 1543: 

Visa Waiver Modernization Act

Published: 

Sponsored by:  Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D-IL5, 2003-2009] in the 110th congress

NumbersUSA's Position:  

Oppose

The bill would grant DHS the authority to waive the Visa Waiver Program’s (VWP) “low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate” requirements with respect to a country’s participation in the VWP (i.e., have a low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate for two years [averaging no more than two percent over both years, not exceeding 2.5 percent in any one year] or no more than a three percent refusal rate for the most recent fiscal year) if: (1) DHS determines that the country has mitigated security risks to the point that participation in the VWP would not compromise U.S.

H.R. 1465: 

To provide additional discretion to the Secretary of Homeland Security in designating countries eligible to participate in the visa waiver program under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other purposes.

Published: 

Sponsored by:  Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL19, 1997-2010] in the 110th congress

NumbersUSA's Position:  

Oppose

The bill would authorize DHS to waive mandatory requirements for a country’s participation in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) – a program which now allows citizens of 27 countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without a visa, and, because there is little scrutiny of VWP “travelers,” has provided easy entry for terrorists and created a black market for stolen or forged passports from such countries – if the agency determines that: (1) the country has developed a viable plan to meet the requirements within three years; (2) the country has made significant progress (not define

H.R. 1176: 

To provide discretionary authority to an immigration judge to determine that an alien parent of a United States citizen child should not be ordered removed, deported, or excluded from the United States.

Published: 

Sponsored by:  Rep. José Serrano [D-NY15] in the 110th congress

NumbersUSA's Position:  

Oppose

The bill would grant an immigration judge the discretion to decline to order the removal – by any means – of a removable alien if the alien is the parent of a child who is a U.S. citizen and the judge determines that removal is "clearly against the best interests of the child"; and would only prohibit use of this discretion if the alien in question: (1) is removable on national security-based grounds; or (2) has engaged in "severe" forms of human trafficking or in sex trafficking.

H.R. 213: 

To provide discretionary authority to an immigration judge to determine that an alien parent of a United States citizen child should not be ordered removed from the United States.

Published: 

Sponsored by:  Rep. José Serrano [D-NY15] in the 110th congress

NumbersUSA's Position:  

Oppose

The bill would grant an immigration judge the discretion to decline to order the deportation of a deportable alien if the alien is the parent of a child who is a U.S. citizen and the judge determines that deportation is "clearly against the best interests of the child"; and would only prohibit use of this discretion if the alien in question: (1) is deportable on national security-based grounds; or (2) has engaged in "severe" forms of human trafficking or in sex trafficking.