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1 1 (February 18, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govcabd0001 and id is 1 raw text is: '. ~**\**\ &~ ~ riE SE .$rCh &~ ~ ~ gognpo go g , q 's a X 11LULANJILiN, Updated February 18, 2020 Immigration Immigration is a multifaceted policy issue that involves temporarily or permanently admitting foreign nationals (in statute, aliens) into the United States and enforcing immigration laws. It is a perennial topic of congressional oversight and legislation. In recent years, the executive branch has taken the lead in implementing numerous policy initiatives, invoking discretionary authority conferred by statute. U.S. immigration law uses the term aliens, defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to mean persons who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals (e.g., persons born in American Samoa). Aliens are also referred to as noncitizens or foreign nationals. U.S. immigration policy can be divided into three broad areas, involving (1) the permanent or temporary admission of aliens into the United States; (2) the enforcement of laws governing the admission, presence, and employment of aliens in the United States; and (3) noncitizen eligibility for federal, state, and local government programs and benefits. Ad or &c-ttr of ~ to tbe K3*nedSZ& kn The INA provides for the admission or other entry of aliens to the United States. Some aliens are admitted permanently through the family- or employment-based immigrant system, and receive green cards or lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. Others are admitted as refugees or granted asylum and can later obtain LPR status. Still others are admitted temporarily for specific purposes as nonimmigrants (e.g., tourists, students, temporary workers). Permanent Admissions. Four major principles underlie U.S. policy on permanent immigration: (1) reunifying families, (2) admitting immigrants with needed skills, (3) diversifying immigrant flows by country of origin, and (4) humanitarian admissions for refugees and asylees. The first three principles form the basis for the INA's complex set of numerical limits and preference categories for permanent immigration. In contrast, the INA gives the President discretion, in consultation with Congress, to determine annually the number of refugees admitted to the United States. Generally, refugees are persons displaced from their home countries because of persecution on a protected ground (e.g., race, religion). Aliens granted LPR status may apply to become U.S. citizens through a process known as naturalization, typically after five years of U.S. residence. In FY2018, roughly 1.1 million aliens became LPRs, including 696,000 through family-sponsored pathways, 138,000 through employment-based pathways, 45,000 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa, 186,000 through the refugee and asylum programs, and 32,000 through other specialized categories. Congress has debated whether and how to restructure the current family- and employment- sponsored admissions provisions to reflect U.S. interests. Some Members of Congress and President Trump have argued for reducing family-sponsored immigration in favor of a merit-based approach that prioritizes education, employability, and English language proficiency. Additionally, President Trump has reduced the refugee admissions ceiling each year, and set the FY2020 ceiling at 18,000, the lowest in the history of the U.S. refugee program. Temporary Admissions. The INA also provides for the temporary admission of nonimmigrants for limited periods and specific purposes. In FY2018, there were more than 186 million nonimmigrant admissions, most of which were for Mexican and Canadian border crossing activity, tourism, and business travel. A temporary admission, in itself, generally does not provide a pathway to LPR status. Nonimmigrants also include temporary workers on H-I and H-2 visas, whose admission to the United States is subject to various restrictions intended to minimize their impact on the domestic labor market. An ongoing debate centers on how many workers should be admitted each year, how admitting temporary workers affects U.S. workers, and whether existing INA provisions should be amended to further limit such effects. Screening of Applicants for Admission. Aliens seeking U.S. admission as immigrants, nonimmigrants, or refugees are screened outside the United States, typically while applying for visas, and again when they arrive at U.S. ports of entry. As part of the screening, aliens must establish their identities, meet eligibility requirements for their admission categories, and not be inadmissible for reasons pertaining to health, criminal, security, terrorism, or other grounds. Aliens from certain countries, including those participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), may travel temporarily to the United States without a visa. However, VWP travelers and other visa-free travelers are also subject to background checks and screening before and upon U.S. arrival. In FY2018, 22.8 million U.S. admissions occurred through the VWP. The INA prescribes penalties for aliens who violate its restrictions on the admission or entry of aliens; the conditions of aliens' continued presence in the United States; the employment of aliens; and other provisions. Initiatives to enforce these laws fall into two main categories: border security and interior enforcement. Border Security. Border security involves securing the means by which people and goods enter the country. Operationally, this requires controlling the official ports of entry (POE) through which legitimate travelers and commerce enter the United States, and patrolling the nation's land and maritime borders to interdict illegal .O 'T

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