Immigration Bills

S.Res. 211 would express the sense of the Senate that the free trade agreements are not the vehicle to enact or change immigration legislation.

H.R. 2899, the Border Security and Immigration Improvement Act, would create a legalization process for almost all illegal aliens who would then be eligible for green cards after 6 years. It would also create a guestworker program for illegal aliens that would lead to amnesty.

S. 1452, the USA Jobs Protection Act, would implement reforms of the H-1B and L-1 visa programs aimed at preventing American high-tech workers from being displaced by foreign workers. The legislation included important protections for American workers, including prevailing wage and no-layoff provisions. It also sought to extend current no-layoff provisions for H-1B dependent employers to all H-1B employers.

Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and for other purposes.

To implement the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement.