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1 1 (December 14, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/govxzs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Cogesoa Resarc Servic Updated December 14, 2018 Immigration Immigration is a broad, multifaceted policy issue that involves temporarily or permanently admitting foreign nationals (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, relying on discretionary authority conferred by statute. During the 115th Congress, the Trump Administration has pursued various immigration policies through executive branch action, including the imposition of entry restrictions known as the travel ban, the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, and the zero tolerance policy regarding illegal border crossing. Courts have blocked some of these actions. For other proposals, such as constructing a border wall and restricting family-based immigration, the Administration has sought congressional action. U.S. immigration law is concerned with aliens, a term defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act 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. Overview of Key Issues U.S. immigration policy can be divided into three broad areas, involving (1) the permanent or temporary admission or entry of aliens into the United States; (2) the enforcement of laws governing aliens' entry, presence, and employment in the United States; and (3) noncitizens' eligibility for federal, state, and local government programs and benefits. Admission or Entry of Aliens to the United States The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for the admission or other entry of aliens to the United States. Some aliens are admitted permanently, through family- or employment-sponsored immigrant visas, or as refugees, and they receive green cards or lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. Others are admitted temporarily for specific purpose through nonimmigrant visas (e.g., tourists, students, or 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) providing humanitarian refuge. 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. Refugees are persons displaced from their home countries because of persecution on a protected ground (e.g., race or religion). Aliens admitted as immigrants or refugees may apply to become U.S. citizens through a process known as naturalization, typically after five years of U.S. residence. In FY2017, roughly 1.1 million aliens became LPRs, including 749,000 through family-sponsored pathways, 138,000 through employment-sponsored pathways, 52,000 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa, 146,000 through the refugee and asylum programs, and 43,000 through other specialized categories. Congress has debated whether and how to restructure the current family- and employment- sponsored admissions provisions to reflect U.S. needs and interests. President Trump capped FY2017 refugee admissions at 50,000 in the travel ban executive orders after the Obama Administration had set the original cap for that year at 110,000. Temporary Admissions. The INA also provides for the admission of nonimmigrants for specific periods of time and purposes. In FY2017, there were more than 181 million nonimmigrant admissions, most of which were for local border crossing activity, tourism, and business travel. A temporary admission, in itself, generally does not provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship. Nonimmigrants also include guest 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 whether and how admitting temporary workers affects U.S. workers, as well as whether the INA should be amended to limit such effects. Screening of Applicants for Admission. Aliens seeking admission to the United States as immigrants or nonimmigrants are screened both outside the United States, typically while applying for visas, and at a U.S. port of entry when they seek admission. As part of the screening, aliens must establish their identity, meet eligibility requirements for their admission category, and not be inadmissible on INA grounds pertaining to health, criminal, security, terrorism, or other grounds. Aliens from certain countries, including those participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), may temporarily travel to the United States without a visa. However, VWP travelers and other visa-free travelers are subject to background checks and screening before and upon U.S. arrival. In FY2017, more than 22 million U.S. admissions occurred through the VWP program. Enforcement of the Immigration Laws The INA also prescribes a range of penalties and other consequences for aliens and, in some cases, other persons https:/crsreports.congress go

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