Spencer Abraham on Immigration

Former Secretary of Energy & Former Republican Senator (MI)

Pro-immigrant; treat legals & illegals separately

Proud of his heritage as the grandson of immigrants from the Arab World, Senator Abraham is the Chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee, where he has fought to toughen enforcement measures against illegal immigration while making sure to keep the door to America open to legal immigrants seeking the American dream, contributing and enriching American society.

Splitting with his party, Senator Abraham led the effort to make a strong pro-immigrant case during the Judiciary Committee and full Senate debate over the Immigration Reform Act of 1996, introducing and helping pass an amendment to split the bill to consider legal and illegal immigration separately. Because of his efforts, the amendment passed overwhelmingly.

The Senator also worked to defeat an amendment which would have reduced legal immigration by cutting overall “family preference” immigration by 60%. Again, thanks to Senator Abraham, the Senate rejected the amendment by a vote of 80-20.

Source: PlanetArabia.com , Jan 8, 2001

Against Anti-Terrorism Law; too hard on immigrants

For more than four years now, Senator Abraham has been trying to rectify an injustice that has befallen on immigrant communities, and especially,the Arab community. In 1996, the Senate passed the Anti-Terrorism law after a mass hysteria following the World Trade Center and the Oklahoma bombings. The law gives some law enforcement agencies the power to detain immigrants under secret evidence provisions without allowing them, or even their attorneys to know what the charge, or the evidence is! Source: PlanetArabia.com , Jan 8, 2001

Voted YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work.

Vote to create a national registry containing names of U.S. workers who want to perform temporary or seasonal agricultural work, and to require the Attorney General to allow more foreign workers into the U.S. for farm work under H-2A visas. Reference: Bill S.2260 ; vote number 1998-233 on Jul 23, 1998

Voted YES on visas for skilled workers.

This bill expanded the Visa program for skilled workers.
Status: Bill Passed Y)78; N)20; NV)2 Reference: The American Competitiveness Act; Bill S. 1723 ; vote number 1998-141 on May 18, 1998

Voted YES on limit welfare for immigrants.

This amendment would have restored food stamp benefits to the children of legal immigrants
Status: Motion to Table Agreed to Y)59; N)41 Reference: Motion to table Kennedy Amdt #429; Bill S.947 ; vote number 1997-111 on Jun 24, 1997

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Page last updated: Apr 29, 2013