A Hearing on Immigration Enforcement Policy, an Appearance by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Action on Several Nominees to Positions that have Jurisdiction Over Immigration Matters Highlight the Week's Immigration- and Refugee-Related Agenda
Monday, March 27, 2017
 | After last week's frenetic activity, the House and Senate is expected to settle into a more normal pace of work during the week ahead, which will feature the usual assortment of hearings, markups, and floor actions. The highlight of this week's immigration- and refugee-related Congressional activity could prove to be a hearing in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration an Border Security that promises to examine how the nation can "restore" enforcement of our nation's immigration laws. |
It is likely that the majority will seek to denigrate the immigration enforcement policies of the Obama Administration and express their support for the immigration enforcement policies of the Trump Administration, while the minority will do the opposite.
Another potential highlight of the week could be the testimony in a House Appropriations subcommittee of Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price. While the demise late last week of the GOP health care "repeal and replace" bill is likely to take up a lot of the oxygen during that hearing, the Secretary's department has jurisdiction over the care and placement of unaccompanied alien children, as well as jurisdiction over programs to assist trafficking victims, and it is possible that those issues will be explored at some point during that hearing.
Another potential highlight of the week could be the testimony in a House Appropriations subcommittee of Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price. While the demise late last week of the GOP health care "repeal and replace" bill is likely to take up a lot of the oxygen during that hearing, the Secretary's department has jurisdiction over the care and placement of unaccompanied alien children, as well as jurisdiction over programs to assist trafficking victims, and it is possible that those issues will be explored at some point during that hearing.
Other immigration- and refugee-related action scheduled to occur during the week includes hearings in the House and the Senate that promise to highlight the potential impact of President Trump's foreign affairs budget.
Outside of Washington, the Trump Administration will likely spend some time in courtrooms this week in conjunction with court proceedings in Hawaii, Maryland, and Seattle on efforts to block key portions of President Donald J. Trump's revised refugee admissions/travel ban executive order.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes six hearings, two business meetings at which matters on those subjects could be marked up, and possible floor action on as many as two bills and three nominees that touch on those matters.
Outside of Washington, the Trump Administration will likely spend some time in courtrooms this week in conjunction with court proceedings in Hawaii, Maryland, and Seattle on efforts to block key portions of President Donald J. Trump's revised refugee admissions/travel ban executive order.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the week's schedule includes six hearings, two business meetings at which matters on those subjects could be marked up, and possible floor action on as many as two bills and three nominees that touch on those matters.
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:
- Litigation Relating to Refugee Admissions/Travel Ban Executive Order: The Department of Justice is expected this week to continue actions in courts around the country to defend the President's March 6, 2017, refugee admissions/travel ban executive order.
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:
- Senate Floor Action on Immigration-Related Nominees: The full Senate could at any time take up the nominations of Elaine C. Duke to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Rod J. Rosenstein to be Deputy Attorney General and Rachel L. Brand, to be Associate Attorney General..
The Week's House and Senate Markups
The following business 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 Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act: A House Committee on Foreign Affairs business meeting, during which it will mark up a number of measures, including H.R. 390, the Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act.
- Vote on the Administration's Nominees to be Deputy Attorney General and Associate Attorney General: A Senate Committee on the Judiciary business meeting, during which it could consider the nominations of Rod J. Rosenstein to be Deputy Attorney General and Rachel L. Brand, to be Associate Attorney General.
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 the U.S. Foreign Assistance Budget: A House committee on Foreign Affairs hearing titled, "The Budget, Diplomacy, and Development," that will focus on the president's recent budget proposal and its impact on U.S. foreign assistance.
- Hearing on Immigration Enforcement: A House Judiciary subcommittee hearing titled, "Restoring Enforcement of our Nation's Immigration Laws."
- Hearing on FY '18 Appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services: A House Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine the President' FY '18 budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services, featuring testimony from Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price.
- Hearing on Terrorism in North Africa: A House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing titled, "Terrorism in North Africa: An Examination of the Threat."
- Hearing on U.S.-Mexico Relations: A Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing titled, "The U.S.-Mexico Relationship: Advancing Security and Prosperity on Both Sides of the Border."
- Hearing on U.S. Foreign Policy: A Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing titled, "The Road Ahead: U.S. Interests, Values, and the American People."
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