Coverage of the Intersection Between Immigration Policy and Politics in the United States
Monday, August 3, 2020
Last Updated: on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at 7:00 am EDT
Top Stories
Congress in Holding Pattern as House,
Senate, and Administration Negotiators
Attempt to Fashion ​COVID-19
Legislative Relief Package
Monday, August 3, 2020
Picture
After a busy week last week, during which the House passed four bills and Congress held six hearings that either focused or touched on immigration or refugees, Congress will be in a bit of a holding pattern during the week of August 3, 2020, with much of the action taking place behind the scenes. 

The big behind-the-scenes this week will be the negotiations taking place involving the House and Senate Democratic Leadership, the Senate Republican Leadership, and the Trump Administration to reach an agreement on the terms of the next COVID-19 relief legislation.   Democrats are seeking enactment of a $3 TRILLION package that includes assistance to individuals, businesses, and state and local government, as well as funding for election administration, funding for the U.S. postal service, and provisions assisting immigrants.  The White House and congressional Republicans are seeking enactment of a much smaller, $1 TRILLION package that includes much smaller enhanced federal unemployment compensation; less aid to state and local governments; and COVID-19-related liability protections for employers.
As far as the week beginning August 3rd is concerned, from the perspective of those interested in migration policy, the week's legislative schedule includes three hearings (one of which is occurring in the House and the other two in the Senate); no substantive markup sessions, and possible floor action in the Senate on a COVID-19 relief bill.  
A preview of the anticipated immigration-related congressional action in the week and month ahead appears after the jump.
Little if Any Talk about Immigration Seems
Likely on This Weekend's  Sunday Morning 
​​Public Affairs Programs 
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Given the guest lineups for the five major Sunday morning public affairs programs, it would appear that there will be little if any discussions about immigration on this week's programs.
​​
A sneak peek at the guest lists for the upcoming August 2, 2020, editions of each of the five major broadcast and cable Sunday public affairs programs appears after the jump, along with previews of the likely or possible discussions on those programs about immigration and, refugees.
President Trump Promises a Forthcoming Executive Action on Immigration
​and DACA
Friday, July 10, 2020
PicturePresident Trump
President Trump on Friday floated a somewhat confusing picture of an executive action on immigration he is considering taking in the coming weeks.  At times he called the forthcoming action as a bill that he would sign.  At other times he referred to it as an executive order.  And at still other times he referred to it as an executive order bill.  The President also at times suggested that the action would include a "road to citizenship" for individuals protected by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  But he also in the same sentence indicated that the action would not include any protections for persons currently protected by DACA.  The President's remarks were made during a wide-ranging Friday, July 10, 2020, interview with Telemundo's Jose Diaz-Balart.  The exchange between them on immigration was previewed Friday evening on MSNBC's "Meet the Press Daily,"

In the immigration exchange with Diaz-Balart, President Trump alternately said  that he is about to sign either "a big immigration bill" or a "big executive order" or a "major immigration bill as an executive order" that will give DACA beneficiaries "a road to citizenship," a power that he erroneously contended the Supreme Court had just given him.

In the excerpt, the President contends of DACA and his promised executive action, "we will put it in" and then "we are probably then going to be taking it out," explaining that "we are working out the legal complexities right now."
House Appropriations Panel Approves FY '21 State, Foreign Operations Spending Bill Containing Substantial Coronavirus-Related
Increases ​in Refugee Spending
Monday, July 6, 2020
PictureReps. Lowey and Rogers
A House panel has approved substantial coronavirus-related increases in funding for refugees, aimed principally at overseas refugee and overseas humanitarian assistance, The refugee-related spending provisions include more-or-less level base funding for those areas.  However, they include a total of $2.25 BILLION of additional coronavirus-related funding.

Other highlights of the spending measure include an extension and expansion of a program that has permitted Afghan translators who helped the United States during the war there to immigrate to the United States and receive refugee benefits; continuation of language from previous years barring a reorganization of the bureau that administers the Department of State's refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs; and a one year-long extension of a program that provides a relaxed adjudicatory standard for religious minorities in the former Soviet Union and Iran seeking admission to the United States as refugees.
Action on Fiscal Year 2021 refugee spending occurred on Monday, July 6, 2020, in connection with the Fiscal Year 2021 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, which funds the federal government's foreign policy and international humanitarian operations.  The measure was approved by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program by a voice vote, during which the Subcommittee entertained no amendments.
Recent Updates
Monday, August 3, 2020
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Monday. July 27, 2020
Friday. July 24, 2020
Enduring Stories
Saturday. July 11, 2020
Wednesday. July 1, 2020
Sunday. June 29 2020
Thursday. June 25, 2020
Tuesday. June 23, 2020
Saturday. June 20, 2020
Thursday. June 18, 2020
Saturday. July 11, 2020
Contents
This Week in House Committees
House Committee on the Judiciary
Oversight Hearing on the Operations of the
Department of Justice
Tuesday, July 28 2020
House Committee Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee Hearing on Vulnerable
​Populations During Disasters
Tuesday, July 28 2020
House Committee on Science,
​Space, and Technology
Joint Subcommittee Hearing on Technology's
Role in ​Countering Trafficking in Persons
Tuesday, July 28 2020
House Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship Oversight Hearing on the Operations of USCIS
Wednesday, July 29 2020
House Committee on Oversight and Reform
Hearing on Banning Undocumented
Immigrants from the Census
Wednesday, July 29 2020
This Week in Senate Committees
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Hearing on the Administration's Fiscal Year 2020 Foreign Affairs Budget Request
Thursday, July 30 2020
House Committee on Rules
Business Meeting to Determine Floor Procedure for Considering Second Minibus Appropriations Bill
Monday, July 27 2020
Senate Markups and Business Meetings
No immigration- or refugee-related matters are the subjects of markups or business meetings are scheduled in Senate committees during the week of July 27, 2020.
This Week on the House Floor
House Floor
Scheduled Immigration Activity
The House is expected to meet n legislative session during the week of July 27, 2020..

​The following measures that either contain significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions or are likely targets for amendments on those subjects are scheduled for floor action:
​​
  • House floor consideration of H.R. 2420, the "National Museum of the American Latino Act"
  • House floor consideration of a package of seven appropriations bills that includes among them the House Committee on Appropriations-reported versions of H.R. 7669, the Fiscal Year 2021 Homeland Security Appropriations Act; H.R. 7614, he Fiscal Year 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; and H.R. 7667, the Fiscal Year 2021 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.  Also included in the package is H.R. 7617, the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Appropriations Act, which includes a significant immigration provision.
This Week on the Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Scheduled Immigration Activity
The full Senate is expected to meet in legislation session during the week of July 27, 2020. 

It was not known at the time of this writing whether there will be any Senate floor action during the week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions.-related provisions. 
Upcoming House Actions
House Floor
Anticipated Immigration Activity
The full House is expected to meet in legislation session during the week of August 3, 2020. 

It is possible that the House will take up COVID-19 relief legislation, which could or could not contain significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions.-related provisions. 
Upcoming Senate Actions
Senate Floor
Anticipated Immigration Activity
The full Senate is expected to meet in legislation session during the week of August 3, 2020. 

It is possible that the Senate will take up COVID-19 relief legislation, which could or could not contain significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions.-related provisions. 
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee Hearing Providing an Update on
the Rohingya Crisis
Monday, August 3, 2020
House Committee on Homeland Security
Hearing on Department of Homeland
Security Police Actions
Date To Be Announced
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Hearing on the Security and Humanitarian
Situation in Venezuela
Tuesday, August 4 2020
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Hearing on Deployment of DHS Personnel to Protests
Thursday, August 6 2020
House Markups
No markups of bills that contain significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are scheduled in House committees beyond the week of July 27,  2020.
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Markup of FY '21 Homeland Security
​Appropriations Act
Date To Be Announced
Senate Committee on Appropriations
​Markup of FY '21 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Date To Be Announced
Senate Committee on Appropriations
​Markup of FY '21 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act
Date To Be Announced
Senate Committee on Appropriations
​Markup of FY '21 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
Date To Be Announced
Last Week on the House Floor
House Floor
Scheduled Immigration Floor Activity
The House met in legislative session during the week of July 20, 2020..

​The following measures that either contained significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions or were targets for amendments on those subjects saw for floor action::

  • House floor consideration of H.R. 6395, the "William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021"; 
  • House floor consideration of H.R. 2214, the ‘National Origin-Based Anti-discrimi-    nation  for Nonimmigrants  Act’’ or  the  ‘‘NO BAN Act’’;
  • House floor consideration of H.R. 5581, the "Access to Counsel Act of 2020"; and
  • House floor consideration of a package of four appropriations bills that will include among them H.R. 7608, its version of the FY '21 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.
Last Week on the Senate Floor
Senate Floor
Scheduled Immigration Floor Activity
The Senate met in legislative session during the week of July 20, 2020, 

The following measures that either contained significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions or were targets for amendments on those subjects saw floor action::

  • Senate floor consideration of S. 4049, the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which contains several immigration-related provisions. 
Last Week in House Committees
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Hearing on State Department Response
to the Pandemic
Tuesday, July 21 2020
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Hearing on the Administration's FY '21  Budget
Request for Fiscal Year 2021
Thursday, July 23 2020
Last Week in Senate Committees
Senate Hearings and Briefings
No immigration- or refugee-related hearings or briefings were scheduled in Senate committees during the week of July 20,, 2020.
House Markups
No markups of bills that contained significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions were held in House committees during the week of July 20,  2020.
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Markup of Several Bills
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
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