Spending Bill Cuts Funding for Jailing Illegally Present Immigrants
Azcentral.com reports that the 2014 spending bill recently passed by Congress would cut nearly $60 million in funding from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). The program partially reimburses states and local governments for the incarceration of undocumented immigrants who have been convicted of felonies or at least two misdemeanor offenses, and who have been in jail for a minimum of four consecutive days. Local taxpayers are expected to help make up for the reduced funding. Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Texas are expected to the hardest hit as a result of the budget cut.
SCAAP was originally authorized by the Immigration Reform and Control act of 1986, but it was not actually funded until the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Funding for the program peaked in 2002 at $565 million, and after a series of budget reductions now stands to hit $180 million for 2014. Some state and local officials object to the budget reductions, though they believe that Congress may consider raising reimbursement rates if the House addresses the stagnating immigration reform bill.
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Immigration Bill in Congress Could Have Impact on Elections in Washington State
Fox News Latino reports that some political experts believe immigration reform would become a key issue in 2014’s November elections. Following the House’s inaction on the Senate-approved immigration reform bill, experts think that immigrants and minorities will favor lawmakers who support such immigration bills as the Washington Dream Act, a approved bill to extend state financial aid in Washington to college students in the U.S. without legal status. Proponents of the bill report that an average of 550 undocumented students attend college in Washington each year, and that number is expected to grow by 20-30% if the bill becomes law. Washington could become the fifth state to approve financial aid for undocumented immigrants, joining California, Texas, New Mexico, and Illinois. Numbers like these, experts suggest, make it clear that immigration issues will play a key role in upcoming elections. Conversely, Republican Party spokesman Keith Schipper believes voters will likely focus more on education issues, the Affordable Car Act, and taxes in November rather than on immigration reform.
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Democrats Use New Filibuster Rules to Approve DHS Nominee Mayorkas under Investigation
Washingtontimes.com reports that the current chief of USCIS, Alejandro Mayorkas, has been approved as the new deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Mayorkas is still under investigation due to allegations of overruling career officers in his agency in order to approve visa applications sought by well-connected Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Senate Republicans claim the move reflects the first time the Senate has ever knowingly confirmed such a high level nominee under active investigation.
Mayorkas’ approval was only made possible by the modification of the Senate’s filibuster rules in December. The vote added up to 54-41 along party lines. Some read the decision as indicative of the “bitter” partisanship in the Senate, as well as a “lack of trust” between Senate Republicans and Democrats.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/20/dems-use-new-filibuster-rules-approve-dhs-nominee/
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