The following story appeared in FAIR’s May 14 Legislative Update. To subscribe to FAIR’s Legislative Update click here.
Last Thursday, the House of Representatives passed several key immigration measures as part of broader bills.
First, the House adopted an amendment to H.R. 5326, the FY 2013 spending bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS), that defunds the Obama Administration’s lawsuits against several states that seek to strike down their immigration enforcement laws. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), is based on a bill she introduced earlier this year (H.R. 3842) to defund the suits. (See FAIR Legislative Update, Jan. 17, 2012)
Second, the house adopted another amendment to the CJS appropriations bill that strips certain funding from sanctuary cities. The amendment, introduced by Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), prohibits the Department of Justice from reimbursing sanctuary cities through the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). SCAAP provides federal funding to state and locals to defray the costs of incarcerating illegal aliens. (See Bureau of Justice Assistance Website, May 13, 2012)
Finally, as a part of a House budget reconciliation package aimed at saving hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade, the House passed language proposed by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) that would prevent illegal aliens from receiving of the additional child tax credit (ACTC). (See H.R. 5652 § 611; see also CQ Today, May 9, 2012) The ACTC is a refundable tax credit that allows individuals with three or more children to reduce their federal income tax by up to $1,000 for each child who meets certain criteria. (See TIGTA Report 2011-41-061, July 7, 2011)
Currently, illegal aliens are eligible for the ACTC because the IRS only requires applicants for the ACTC to provide an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which it indiscriminately hands out to illegal aliens. Last year, the Inspector General for the U.S. Treasury Department released a report revealing that illegal aliens annually receive $4.2 billion in refundable tax credits, primarily through the ACTC. (Id.; see also FAIR Legislative Update, Sept. 6, 2011)
Having passed both the CJS and budget reconciliation bills on Thursday, both bills are headed to the Senate. President Obama, however, has threatened to veto the CJS appropriations bill because of various amendments made to the bill, and Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that the Democrat-controlled Senate is unlikely to take up the Republican House’s budget reconciliation package. (Fox News, May 10, 2012; Wall Street Journal, May 10, 2012)
THE 4 BILLION SENT TO ILLEGALS! THIS IS WHAT I SAY, TAKE 4 BILLION FROM H.S.S, THEN WE ARE EVEN.
YEAH!!!, All I want for XMAS is that my tax dollars are NOT spent to defend a cause for illegals and non-citizens. I love the way Arpaio handles it, It is our own Congress that will do in our great country
What they need to pass is the E-Verify and put in some stiff penalty’s that way we don’t have illegals in our work place and there fore illegals want be getting taxes back. Our Government knows how to fix the problems we have in this country today. Its like they made some kind of deal with these other country’s and we the citizens are going to pay for it one way or the other. What gets me is why would they put there reputation on the line are we going to have to put up with this all the time. I mean they are making there self look plum stupid i never thought i would ever say that i am ashamed of my country ( but i am ) its like they don’t give a damn any more it’s all about the biggest BUCK who can pad my pocket the best and not whats best for my country i believe a 10 year old could do better. We can still fix what is wrong with this country today but i think we need some stiff penalty’s in place on the people we elect into our office’s in all government and no more corp. sponsorship for any one running for any office. Like no more lobbyist if you need some help on something go to that State you are applying to do something and let them handle the common law and issue a permits just plan common scene that is all it takes and for our borders let our National Guards handle that stuff after all that’s there jobs they can do all the deporting of all illegals they want and when they need too. There number one job is to keep us safe and our boarders secure and that is what is on my mind yours truly Mr. Underhill