Modernization Act: Law Or Just Talk?

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (Bill S.744) was a proposed immigration reform bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) in the United States Senate. The bill was co-sponsored by the other seven members of the Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who wrote and negotiated the bill. The bill was passed in the Senate by a vote of 68-32 but was not considered by the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives and died in the 113th Congress. The bill would have allowed many illegal immigrants to gain legal status and eventually citizenship, increased border security, and advanced talent-based immigration through a points-based system.

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 was a proposed immigration reform bill

The bill was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 21, 2013, and was placed on the Senate calendar. On June 27, 2013, the Senate passed the bill with a 68-32 margin. However, the bill was not considered by the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives and died in the 113th Congress.

If enacted, the bill would have had a significant impact on illegal immigrants, border security, and the existing U.S. immigration law. It would have allowed many illegal immigrants to gain legal status and eventually citizenship. The bill proposed increasing border security by adding up to 40,000 border patrol agents and enhancing surveillance technology. It also aimed to advance talent-based immigration through a points-based system and proposed new visa categories, such as the INVEST visa for entrepreneurs and the W visa for lower-skilled workers.

The bill included a $1.5 billion youth jobs program and proposed repealing the Diversity Visa Lottery in favour of prospective legal immigrants already in the United States. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that this bill would have reduced the U.S. fiscal deficit by $197 billion over 10 years and by $700 billion by 2033. Additionally, the Social Security Administration anticipated an increase in revenue of $276 billion over the next 10 years, with costs of only $33 billion.

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 was a comprehensive attempt at immigration reform, but its failure to pass in the House of Representatives highlights the challenges and ongoing debate surrounding immigration policy in the United States.

The bill was passed by the Senate but was not considered by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (Bill S.744) was a proposed immigration reform bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) in the United States Senate. The bill was co-sponsored by the other seven members of the "Gang of Eight", a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who wrote and negotiated the bill. The bill was passed by the Senate on June 27, 2013, by a vote of 68 to 32. All 52 Democrats, both Independents, and 14 Republicans voted in favor of the bill.

However, the bill was not considered by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and died in the 113th Congress. House Republicans and Speaker John Boehner stated that the bill would not receive a floor vote. Instead, they favored a piecemeal approach to immigration reform, with several different bills instead of one comprehensive reform bill. They asserted that the House GOP would draft another bill without a path to citizenship and with some other changes from the Senate bill.

The failure of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act to become law highlights the challenges and complexities of the U.S. legislative process, where a bill must pass both the Senate and the House of Representatives to become law. In this case, despite bipartisan support in the Senate, the bill faced opposition from conservative Republicans in the House, who took a different approach to immigration reform.

The bill's demise also underscores the contentious nature of immigration reform in the United States, with deep divisions and disagreements over how to address issues such as border security, pathways to citizenship, and visa programs. The debate over immigration continues to be a polarizing issue in American politics, with significant implications for millions of people.

The failure of the bill to advance in the House of Representatives contributed to a lack of significant immigration reform legislation in recent years. As of 2022, there has been no major immigration reform enacted since the failure of the bill, and the DACA program, which offers temporary protection from deportation to qualifying individuals brought to the U.S. as children, faces an uncertain future.

If enacted, the bill would have allowed illegal immigrants to gain legal status and citizenship

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (Bill S.744) was a proposed immigration reform bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer in the United States Senate. The bill was co-sponsored by the other seven members of the "Gang of Eight", a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who wrote and negotiated the bill.

The bill would have provided a pathway to U.S. citizenship for illegal immigrants who had resided in the U.S. before December 31, 2011. Illegal immigrants would have been required to apply for a newly created Registered Provisional Immigrant status. To do so, immigrants would have had to pay a fine, fees, and any back taxes owed; pass a background check; and not have a disqualifying criminal record. The bill also included the DREAM Act and the AgJOBS Act. Immigrants who received Registered Provisional Immigrant status would have been able to apply for legal permanent resident status (a green card) as long as strict border security provisions were met.

The bill contained many other provisions, including the removal of per-country green card quota limits, which would help reduce backlogs. It also proposed the creation of a new INVEST visa, which would make it easier for prospective foreign entrepreneurs to stay in the U.S. and start companies. Additionally, the bill would have allotted up to 25,000 more visas/green cards to foreign students with advanced degrees in STEM fields.

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 passed the Senate with a 68-32 vote but was not considered by the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives and died in the 113th Congress.

The bill would have increased border security by adding up to 40,000 border patrol agents

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (Bill S.744) was a proposed immigration reform bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) in the United States Senate. The bill was co-sponsored by the other seven members of the "Gang of Eight", a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who wrote and negotiated the bill.

The bill included a number of provisions to increase border security and add up to 40,000 border patrol agents. These provisions included:

• Increasing the number of CBP officers by 3,500 by 2017
• Authorizing the National Guard to participate in missions related to border security
• Funding additional surveillance and surveillance technology
• Providing funding to build a border fence
• Doubling the number of border agents to about 40,000

The bill also included provisions for enhancing interior enforcement of immigration laws, such as requiring the implementation of E-Verify for verification of the status of employees and increased protections for U.S. workers.

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act was created by a group of eight U.S. Senators: four Republicans and four Democrats, nicknamed the "Gang of Eight." The bill was introduced in the Senate on April 16, 2013, during the 113th United States Congress. The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the bill in April 2013, and it was voted out of Committee on May 21, 2013. On June 27, 2013, the Senate passed the bill with a vote of 68-32.

However, the bill was not considered by the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives and died in the 113th Congress. Conservative Republicans in the House were opposed to the bill, and Speaker John Boehner stated that it would not receive a floor vote. Despite the bill's failure to become law, it represented a significant attempt at comprehensive immigration reform and included a range of provisions aimed at increasing border security and modernizing immigration policies.

The bill included a $1.5 billion youth jobs program

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 (Bill S.744) was a proposed immigration reform bill introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer in the United States Senate. The bill was co-sponsored by the other seven members of the "Gang of Eight", a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who wrote and negotiated the bill. The bill included a $1.5 billion youth jobs program, which aimed to create employment opportunities for low-income youth between the ages of 16 and 25.

The Gang of Eight consisted of four Republicans and four Democrats: Michael Bennet, Dick Durbin, Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Bob Menendez, Marco Rubio, and Chuck Schumer. The bill was introduced in the Senate on April 16, 2013, during the 113th United States Congress.

The $1.5 billion youth jobs program was just one part of a broader effort to reform immigration policy and create a more fair and just system. The bill also proposed measures to increase border security, improve visa allocation, and provide a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants. It aimed to address the needs of both those seeking to enter the country and those already residing in the United States.

The youth jobs program specifically targeted low-income youth, recognizing the importance of early work experience and the impact of low wages and insufficient hours on young people's prospects. By providing summer and year-round employment opportunities, the program sought to reduce poverty rates and enhance economic stability for this demographic.

The bill passed the Senate on June 27, 2013, by a vote of 68 to 32. However, it was not considered by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives and ultimately died in the 113th Congress without becoming law. Despite its failure to pass, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 represented a significant effort to address immigration reform and invest in the future of America's youth.

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