Congress And Immigration Reform

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A month after massive pro-immigration demonstrations around the country and just weeks after millions of illegal immigrants filed taxes in hopes of one day becoming citizens, Congress returned to Washington today from its two-week Easter recess. Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on immigration reform. Congress is considering a wide range of proposals over what to do about the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, from toughening border controls to offering many a chance to become American citizens. Guest host Diana Nyad visits some of these proposals with reporters, pollsters and advocates on both sides of the issue.Making News: Kenneth Lay Takes the Stand in HoustonFormer Enron CEO Kenneth Lay takes the stand in his own defense today in Houston, Texas. Lay is accused of lying to Enron's investors about the health of the company when in fact Enron was heading for bankruptcy in December, 2001. Mark Babineck is covering the trial for the Houston Chronicle.Reporter's Notebook: Polygamists Don't Want to Pay Property TaxesSome 8,000 polygamists in Utah, members of the fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, contend it is their right to live on their church-owned property without paying property taxes. If they continue their standoff, they risk losing their homes in both Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona. Brooke Adams writes about polygamy, both as a reporter and bloger, for the Salt Lake Tribune.
Guest host Diana Nyad, 2002 inductee into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, is a business sports columnist for Marketplace, senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and has hosted her own show on CNBC. She's also the author of three books. Immigration-reform bills discussed in this segment::
  • HR 3402: Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (Sensenbrenner)
    • S 1438: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 (Cornyn-Kyl)
  • S 1033: Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2006 (Kennedy-McCain)
  • Hagel/Martinez Amendment (based on S1919, introduced by Hagel in Oct, 2005)

    • Ken Lay's webpage

    Babineck's article on Lay's assertions of lies, misinformation

    President Bush on immigration reform, securing US borders

    Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship

    Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN)

    Gaouette's article on recent immigration raid on IFCO Systems

    Pew Research Center on America's quandary over immigration

    Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Wikipedia on

    HBO's Big Love

    Adams' article on FLDS battle over property taxes

    Credits

    Host:

    Warren Olney