Mark A Ivener, A Law Corporation

Category: Legislation


House Passes STEM Bill; ‘Achieve Act’ Introduced in Senate, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Reacts; Obama, Dems Advocate Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6429, the “STEM Jobs Act of 2012,” by a 245-139 vote on November 30, 2012. The bill would allocate 55,000 immigrant visas for certain foreign graduates of advanced degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It would exclude students with degrees in biological and biomedical fields.… Read More

STEM Bill Fails in House

On September 20, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives rejected the STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 6429), sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) by a vote of 257-158. (288 votes were required to pass under suspension of the rules.) The bill would have provided permanent residence to 55,000 foreign students each year who graduate with advanced… Read More

Eleventh Circuit Blocks Additional Portions of Alabama Immigration Law

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has included additional provisions of a controversial Alabama immigration law in its injunction. The court ruled that Alabama may not enforce provisions barring undocumented people in Alabama from obtaining a driver’s license and barring courts from enforcing contracts involving the undocumented, pending a challenge to the… Read More

Witnesses Discuss Controversial DHS OIG Report at House Hearing

The House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Immigration held a hearing on February 15, 2012, “Safeguarding the Integrity of the Immigration Benefits Adjudication Process,” at which witnesses discussed a new report by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG). Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) opened the hearing. Witnesses included Alejandro Mayorkas,… Read More

House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill Adding Israel to Nonimmigrant Investor Visa Eligibility List

On February 28, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary approved legislation that would add Israel to the E-2 nonimmigrant visa eligibility list of countries. The bill would allow Israelis to apply for E-2 visas if similarly situated U.S. nationals are eligible for such visas in Israel. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Cal.), said… Read More