A Light Schedule of Immigration-Related Business Likely During the Week Ahead as Policy Watchers Await Supreme Court Decision on DACA
Monday, May 25, 2020
 | Little legislative action on immigration is expected to take place during the week beginning May 25, 2020.. The Senate is out of town for its week-long Memorial Day recess, leaving the House behind for a workweek that is abbreviated by Memorial Day on Monday and a quick exit upon the close of business on Thursday. |
Notwithstanding the relatively light work week, however, the eyes of immigration stakeholders and policy watchers will be fixed across the street from the U.S. Capitol Building as they await a possible decision from the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on the legality of President Trump's efforts to shutdown the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes two hearings or briefings (both occurring in the House), no markups, and just one scheduled floor action (also occurring in the House) on matters of consequence.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes two hearings or briefings (both occurring in the House), no markups, and just one scheduled floor action (also occurring in the House) on matters of consequence.
Awaiting Supreme Court's DACA Decision
The Supreme Court of the United States could issue a decision as soon as Tuesday, May 26, on the legality of President Trump's efforts to bring DACA to an end, Many court watchers, however, expect that the SCOTUS decision on DACA will not likely be issued until the final week of its session, which usually comes in the last week of June.
If, as many expect, when the Court renders its decision it permits the Administration to end DACA, that likely will set off a pitched political battle in Congress as immigration advocates pressure the Senate to act on legislation to provide relief to a sympathetic group of migrants, many of whom were brought to the United States through no fault of their own and have lived most of their lives in the United States.
The House of Representatives last year passed H.R. 6, the "American Dream and Promise Act of 2019", which would provide relief to DACA beneficiaries, as well as to individuals in the United States who have received protection under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) orders. However, most Republican senators have avoided taking a position on the bill, with some suggesting they could only support very limited relief for DACA beneficiaries at the price of ending most family-based legal immigration to the United States.
SCOTUS decisions are generally handed down on Mondays (except on federal holidays, such as Memorial Day), and are typically completed by the end of June, although the schedule this year could be impacted by coronavirus.
If, as many expect, when the Court renders its decision it permits the Administration to end DACA, that likely will set off a pitched political battle in Congress as immigration advocates pressure the Senate to act on legislation to provide relief to a sympathetic group of migrants, many of whom were brought to the United States through no fault of their own and have lived most of their lives in the United States.
The House of Representatives last year passed H.R. 6, the "American Dream and Promise Act of 2019", which would provide relief to DACA beneficiaries, as well as to individuals in the United States who have received protection under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) orders. However, most Republican senators have avoided taking a position on the bill, with some suggesting they could only support very limited relief for DACA beneficiaries at the price of ending most family-based legal immigration to the United States.
SCOTUS decisions are generally handed down on Mondays (except on federal holidays, such as Memorial Day), and are typically completed by the end of June, although the schedule this year could be impacted by coronavirus.
The Week's House and Senate Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, the following measure(s) that contain significant immigration-, refugee-, or human trafficking-related provisions or that could become a target for amendments on those subjects are scheduled for floor consideration this week in the House or Senate:.
- Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020: The full House of Representatives is scheduled to take up S. 3744, the "Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020",
The Week's House and Senate Markups
At the time of this writing, no business meetings or markups that could have an eventual impact on the course of immigration-, refugee-, or human trafficking-related legislation or oversight are scheduled for committee consideration this week in the House or Senate.
The Week's House and Senate Hearings and Briefings
At the time of this writing, the following hearings or briefings that are likely to examine significant immigration-, refugee-, or human trafficking-related matters were scheduled for this week in the House or Senate:
- Hearing on Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color: The House Committee on Ways and Means has scheduled a hearing for this week on "The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Color."
- Hearing on Protecting Workers from COVID-19: The House Committee on Education and Labor has scheduled a hearing for this week to on "Examining the Federal Government’s Actions to Protect Workers from COVID-19."
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