Three Immigration Amendments Offered to CJS Appropriations
Three immigration-related amendments have been offered to the FY 2010 House Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill (H.R. 2847), which is currently under debate in the House of Representatives. The amendments would deny agency funds to states and local governments providing sanctuary for illegal aliens and ensure that no agency funding would be used to employ illegal aliens.
UPDATE: The Rules Committee approved a rule that prevented these three amendments from getting a vote.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) offered Amendment No. 122, which would ensure that "none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to employ" illegal aliens.
Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Cali.) offered Amendment No. 52, which would ensure that "none of the funds made available in this Act may be used to provide funds to any State or local government entity" that passed sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) offered a third immigration amendment (No. 51) that would prevent state or local governments that pass laws circumventing federal immigration law from receiving money set aside in the appropriations bill for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). SCAAP provides funding for states to incarcerate illegal aliens.
Last week, several immigration amendments were offered to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, but all were defeated except one that prevents former Gitmo detainees from receiving visas.