The Release of Trump's FY '18 Budget Blueprint, a Hearing on the Vetting of Immigration Benefit Applicants, and a Hearing on Fraud in K-1 Fiancé Visas Highlight the Week's Immigration- and Refugee-Related Agenda
Monday, March 13, 2017
 | Legislation to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act will take up most of the oxygen in the Capitol this week. However, plenty of immigration- refugee-, and homeland security-related action is occurring in Washington this week, as well. |
The most prominent action on those matters taking place this week will be the expected release on either Wednesday or Thursday of President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget blueprint. The release is expected to propose deep cuts in refugee funding and large increases in immigration enforcement- and border security-related funding relative to fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2016 spending.
Also this week, various committees of the House and Senate are scheduled to hold hearings on such immigration-related matters as the integrity of the vetting of applicants for immigration benefits vetting and fraud in the K-1 Fiancé visa program.
Outside of Washington, court proceedings are either scheduled or possible during the week in Hawaii, Maryland, and Seattle on efforts to block portions of President Donald J. Trump's revised refugee admissions/travel ban executive order.
In all, the week's schedule includes four hearings, two mark-up sessions, and possible floor action on as many as 15 measures that either touch on immigration, refugees, or the Department of Homeland Security.
Also this week, various committees of the House and Senate are scheduled to hold hearings on such immigration-related matters as the integrity of the vetting of applicants for immigration benefits vetting and fraud in the K-1 Fiancé visa program.
Outside of Washington, court proceedings are either scheduled or possible during the week in Hawaii, Maryland, and Seattle on efforts to block portions of President Donald J. Trump's revised refugee admissions/travel ban executive order.
In all, the week's schedule includes four hearings, two mark-up sessions, and possible floor action on as many as 15 measures that either touch on immigration, refugees, or the Department of Homeland Security.
The Week's Executive Branch Actions
The following executive branch actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
- Release of Fiscal Year 2018 Budget. The White House is scheduled to release President Trump's Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Blueprint on either Wednesday, or Thursday of this week.
- Court Hearings Challenging the Revised Executive Order. Courts in Maryland and Hawaii have scheduled hearings for Wednesday of this week associated with lawsuits challenging President Trump's March 6, 2017, Refugee Admissions/Travel Ban Executive Order.
- Effective Date of Revised Executive Order. The March 6, 2017, Refugee Admissions/Travel Ban Executive Order is scheduled to become effective at Midnight on Thursday, March 16, 2017.
The Week's House and Senate Floor Actions
The following House or Senate floor actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
- House Floor Consideration of Nine Homeland Security Bills: The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up nine noncontroversial homeland security bills that were approved earlier this month by the House Committee on Homeland Security. The House is expected to take up the measures on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.
The Week's House and Senate Markups
The following meetings are scheduled for the week, during which measures that either contain significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions or that could be targets for amendments on those subjects could be marked up:
- Markup of Private Bills: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security has scheduled a business meeting for this week to mark up three private immigration bills.
- Vote on the Nomination of Elaine Duke to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a business meeting for this week, during which it expects to vote on the nomination of Elaine Duke to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.
The Week's House and Senate Hearings
The following hearings featuring immigration- or refugee-related themes or subjects are scheduled in the House or Senate this week:
- Hearing on Fraud in the Fiancé Visa Program: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Vows for Visas: Investigating K-1 Fiancé Fraud.",
- Hearing on the Syrian War's Human Toll: The Senate Committee on the Foreign Relations has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Six Years of War in Syria: The Human Toll."
- Hearing on Immigration Benefits Vetting: The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency has scheduled a hearing for this week, titled, "Immigration Benefits Vetting: Examining Critical Weaknesses in USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) Systems."
- Hearing on FY '18 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a "Members Day" hearing for this week.
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