Voted on Senate floor against amendment to expand chain migration in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against the Clinton Amendment (SA 1183) to S. 1348. The Clinton Amendment would significantly increase legal immigration by adding an unlimited number of spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents to the uncapped immediate relative category that currently is for the spouses, minor children and parents of U.S. citizens only. The spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents currently are allocated some 87,000 visas each year. The Clinton Amendment failed by a vote of 44 to 53.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to increase chain migration in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against the Menendez Amedment (SA 1194) to S. 1395. The Menedez Amendment would not only increase near-term legal immigration by more than 100,000 each year, it would remove even the façade that the bill would end chain migration. Specifically, it would change the cut-off date for reducing the “backlog” of family-sponsored immigration applicants from May 1, 2005, to January 1, 2007, the same date by which illegal aliens must have been unlawfully present in the United States in order to receive amnesty under this bill. It also adds 110,000 green cards a year for adult children and sibling backlog reduction. The Menedez Amendment failed by a vote of 53 to 44.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to increase chain migration in 2007

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Akaka Amendment (SA 1186) to S. 1387 The Akaka Amendment would exempt children of Filipino World War II veterans naturalized pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990 from numerical limits on worldwide immigration. This additional exemption from caps on visa issuance would serve only to increase the flow of immigration into the United States.The Akaka Amendment passed by a vote of 97 to 9.

Tried to end chain migration in 1996

Rep. Graham voted against the Chrysler-Berman Amendment to H.R.2202. For Americans who want to bring immigration back down toward traditional levels, that vote was the most important one cast since 1990. Total annual immigration had snowballed from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today primarily because of provisions allowing immigrants to send for their adult relatives. Then each of those relatives can send for their and their spouse's adult relatives, creating a never-ending and ever-growing chain. The bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission recommended doing away with the adult relative categories (begun only in the 1950s) in order to lessen wage depression among lower-paid American workers. Rep. Graham agreed with the Jordan Commission. The House Judiciary Committee responded with H.R.2202 which would have effectively ended chain migration. But the Chrysler-Berman Amendment was introduced on the House floor to strip away the legal immigration reform provisions. The House voted in favor of the amendment, thus endorsing the chain migration which the Census Bureau projects will double the U.S. population again in the next century. Rep. Graham voted against that much-more congested future.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of guestworker-amnesty bill by voting in favor of cloture motion to end debate and bring bill to a vote in 2007

Sen. Graham voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture and limit debate on S. 1639, thereby preventing it from moving toward a final vote. S. 1639 is the “corrected and updated” version of S. 1348, the guestworker-amnesty bill that would: grant an amnesty; authorize the importation of millions of new foreign workers; and do little to curb our illegal immigration crisis. Two days prior to this vote, the Senate had voted to invoke cloture and move forward with the debate on S. 1639, outside normal channels and bypassing the committee process. Two weeks prior to this vote, the Senate rejected cloture on the “grand bargain” substitute amendment to S. 1348 by a 45-50 margin, thus halting – for the time being – the bill’s progress toward final passage. President Bush then stepped in to plead with Senate Republicans to give the “compromise” another look. Senate Majority Leader Reid chose to bring the proposal back to the Senate as a new bill, S. 1369. This motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639 (the second motion) failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of guestworker-amnesty bill by voting in favor of a motion to bring bill to the Senate floor for a debate and a vote in 2007

Sen. Graham voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture and bring S. 1639, the “corrected and updated” version of S. 1348, the guestworker-amnesty bill that would grant an amnesty, would authorize the importation of millions of new foreign workers, and would do little to curb our illegal immigration crisis, to the Senate floor. Two weeks prior to this vote, the Senate rejected cloture on the “grand bargain” substitute amendment to S. 1348 by a 45-50 margin, thus halting – for the time being – the bill’s progress toward final passage. President Bush then stepped in to plead with Senate Republicans to give the “compromise” another look and Senate Majority Leader Reid then brought the proposal back to the Senate as a new bill, S. 1369. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of guestworker-amnesty bill by voting in favor of motion to limit debate and move to vote in 2007

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the second cloture motion on the "grand bargain" substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, the guestworker-amnesty bill that would grant an amnesty, would authorize the importation of millions of new foreign workers, and would do little to curb our illegal immigration crisis. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended the debate on the "compromise" proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote against cloture was effectively a vote in favor of killing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

Voted in favor of motion to invoke cloture on S. 1348 to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2007

Sen. Graham voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. The motion to invoke cloture was a procedural vote on whether or not to bring S. 1348 to the floor for debate without going through a committee process. Therefore, a vote in favor of cloture reflected not only a willingness to pass the amnesty but also to bring it up outside normal channels, i.e., without committee debate and amendments conducted in the public light. (Most Senators had not even seen the final version of the enormous bill before the vote). Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office had not estimated its cost. A vote against cloture can be seen as a vote against the amnesty, or at least against the procedure Majority Leader Reid tried to use to push the amnesty. Key components of S. 1348 include: an immediate amnesty for nearly all 12-20 million illegal aliens who will get legal status for residence and jobs (with the assurance of getting green cards no later than 13 years); mandatory workplace verification and some extra enforcement to try to slow the flow of the next 12 million illegal aliens enticed by the amnesty; a tripling of the rate of chain migration of extended family from around 250,000 a year to around 750,000 a year for about a decade; and new flows of 400,000 temporary foreign workers each year, bringing their families and having anchor babies who will be given U.S. citizenship. The cloture motion passed by a vote of 69 to 23, thus subjecting the bill to further debate and amendment.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to kill border fence in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Manager's Amendment (SA 4188), offered by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Manager's Amendment made many minor changes to S. 2611, none of have significant numeric impacts on the overall bill. However, the Manager's Amendment included a provision that requires consultation with the government of Mexico concerning the construction of additional fencing and related border security structures along the international border between the United States and Mexico. This would virtually guarantee that the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border would never be completed. The Manager's Amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 41 to 1 (the 1 denotes a "present" vote).

Voted in favor of bill to increase immigration and grant amnesty to illegal aliens in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of final passage of S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. S. 2611 would dramatically change most occupations and communities in America with the largest movement of foreign workers in world history. Specifically, S. 2611 would: reward approximately 10.2 million illegal aliens with an amnesty allowing them to permanently take American jobs and become U.S. citizens; entice millions more foreign workers to illegally enter our communities, crowd the housing and schools, take the jobs and depress the wages because they reasonably can believe they eventually will be given an amnesty, too; double legal immigration from 1 million to 2 million a year; give out permanent green cards to up to 66 million foreign workers and dependents over the next 20 years. The main difference in terms of numbers between the final version of S. 2611 and the version of the bill when the cloture motion was invoked was that the Bingaman Amendment to cap the number of employment-based visas for workers, spouses and children at 650,000 was adopted after cloture but before final passage. Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation estimates that the Bingaman Amendment would reduce employment-based visas available under S. 2611 by about 150,000 a year. S. 2611 passed by a vote of 62 to 36.

Voted in favor of motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611 to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The motion to invoke cloture was a procedural move to ends debate on S. 2611. If the motion had been rejected by at least 40 Senators, Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R-TN) would have had to choose between continued debate on S. 2611 and moving on to other legislative business. If the motion had failed, Sen. Frist was expected to move on to other legislative business, thus effectively killing the bill. S. 2611 provides an indirect path to citizenship for illegal aliens. S. 2611 also provides for major increases in temporary worker visas and permanent immigrant visas. It provides for at least an additional 100,000 H-1B visas annually; an additional 325,000 new guestworker visas (H-5A/H-2C visas); a one-time-only permanent increase of 310,660. In addition, the S. 2611 includes amnesty for an estimated 10.2 million illegal aliens (about 6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal aliens spouse and/or children). The cloture motion passed by a vote of 73 to 25.

Voted against motion to invoke cloture on bill to increase overall immigration numbers and reward illegal aliens with amnesty in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against a motion to invoke cloture on SA 3424, a "compromise amnesty" proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-NE) and Martinez (R-FL). The purpose of voting against allowing a final vote on this proposal varied from Senator to Senator, with many of them favoring the proposal but not willing to bring it up without a lot of votes on amendments. At the least, those voting against cloture were insisting on a chance for opponents of the bill to make their case with amendments. The Hagel-Martinez proposal was put forth as an alternative to the Senate Judiciary Committee-passed amnesty proposal. The Hagel-Martinez proposal differs from the Judiciary Committee proposal in that it provides an indirect path to citizenship for illegal aliens as opposed to the direct path outlined in the Judiciary Committee proposal. It only allows illegal aliens who have been in the country for more than 5 years to stay in the United States and adjust to legal status. Those who have been here less than 5 years but more than two years would be required to exit the country and return through the a land port of entry with a visa. Over time, qualified individuals would have the chance to become citizens. The Hagel-Martinez compromise also provides for major increases in temporary worker visas and permanent immigrant visas. It provides for at least an additional 100,000 H-1B visas annually; an additional 325,000 new guestworker visas (H-5A/H-2C visas); a one-time-only permanent increase of 310,660; and a total annual increase in permanent immigrant visas of at least 1,154,700. In addition, the Hagel-Martinez compromise includes amnesty for an estimated 10.2 million illegal aliens (about 6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal aliens spouses and/or children). The cloture motion failed by a vote of 38 to 60.

Voted in committee in favor of major amnesty-guestworker proposal in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of a proposal sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter (R-PA, which would provide a blanket amnesty for illegal aliens, a doubling of new permanent workers, and more than twice the number of new temporary workers. Specifically, Sen. Specter's proposal would provide for at least an additional 500,000 H-1B visas annually; a one-time-only permanent increase of 310,660; and a total annual increase in permanent immigrant visas of 1,008,660. In addition, Sen. Specter's proposal includes amnesty for an estimated 10.2 million illegal aliens (about 6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal aliens spouses and/or children). NumbersUSA's analysis of the Specter proposal finds that a minimum of 31 million permanent immigrants would be allowed into the United States over the next 10 years under the Specter proposal. Click here to see a chart comparing the numeric effect of the Specter proposal with other Senate immigration bills. The Specter proposal was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 12 to 6.

Cosponsored comprehensive immigration reform in 2002

Rep. Graham cosponsored H.R. 5013, the SAFER Act of 2002. H.R. 5013 contained much needed security reforms such as increased Border Patrol agents and INS inspectors, as well as screening and tracking of aliens in the U.S. As well H.R. 5013 included immigration related anti-terrorism measures that would prevent the granting of visas to aliens known to be affiliated with terrorists. This bill, in tackling many of the provisions necessary for an effective interior enforcement strategy would have reduced the number of people entering the country who are likely to become illegal aliens. It would also have reduced permanent immigration by eliminating the visa lottery and chain migration categories. Current legal immigration levels have grown from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million annually in recent years primarily because of “chain migration” resulting from provisions allowing immigrants to send for their adult relatives. Then each of those relatives can send for their and their spouse's adult relatives, creating a never-ending and ever-growing chain. The bi-partisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform, chaired by the late Barbara Jordan, recommended doing away with the adult relative categories (begun only in the 1950s) in order to protect America’s most vulnerable workers from wage depression and job competition resulting from mass immigration.

Cosponsored a bill to triple the number of H-2B workers in 2007

Sen. Graham is a cosponsor of the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2007 (S 988). This bill would exempt any alien who has been present in the United States as an H-2B nonimmigrant worker for any one of the previous three fiscal years and who is returning to work as an H-2B from counting against the 66,000-per-year cap on H-2B visas (i.e., potentially tripling the number of H-2Bs in the U.S. at any one time). The main sponsor of this bill is Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

	Voted on Senate floor against amendment to sunset proposed guestworker program in 5 years in 2007
	Sen. Graham voted against the Dorgan Amendment (SA 1316) to S. 1348 that sunsets the Y-1 "temporary" nonimmigrant nonagricultural worker program five years after enactment. The Dorgan Amendment had been voted on by the Senate two weeks prior to this vote and it failed by a vote of 48 to 49, but this time the Senate voted to pass it by a vote of 49 to 48.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to protect American workers

Sen. Graham voted against SA 1231, the Durbin Amendment to S. 1348 to ensure that employers make efforts to recruit American workers before hiring foreign workers. The Durbin Amendment eliminates provisions authorizing the Department of Labor to waive requirements that employers in "labor shortage areas" offer jobs to U.S. workers before seeking to import foreign workers. This would allow American jobs to be made available to U.S. workers first, regardless of the industry, occupation, or location of the job. The Durbin Amendment passed by a vote of 71 to 22.

Voted in favor of amendment to S. 1348 to increase H-1B visa fees in 2007
Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Sanders Amendment (S. 1223) to S. 1348. The Sanders Amendment would raise the fees employers who wish to import H-1B high-skill nonimmigrant workers from $1,500 to $10,000, with the funds going to scholarships for American high tech students. The Sanders Amendment passed by a vote of 59 to 35.

	Voted on Senate floor against amendment to sunset proposed guestworker program in 2007
	Sen. Graham voted against the Dorgan Amendment> (SA 1181) to S. 1348 to sunset the bill's guestworker provisions in five years. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 48 to 49.

	Voted against amendment to cut proposed guestworker program in half in 2007
	Sen. Graham voted against the Bingaman Amendment (SA 1169) to S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. The Bingaman Amendment would reduce the annual importation of workers under the new guestworker programs proposed by S. 1348 from 400,000 to 200,000 workers per year. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote of 74 of 24.

	Voted against amendment to kill proposed guestworker program in 2007
	Sen. Graham voted against the Dorgan Amendment to S. 1348 to delete provisions in the bill establishing new “guestworker” programs, which, potentially, could authorize the importation of up to 600,000 foreign workers per year. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 64.

Cosponsored legislation to increase H-2B workers who are present in the U.S. at any one time in 2006

Sen. Graham cosponsored S. 2284, the Save Our Small and Seasonal Business Act of 2006, to amend the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2005 to extend for three years an exemption for any H-2B alien who has been counted against the 66,000-visa cap during any of the three previous three fiscal years. H-2B visas are issued to "temporary" or "seasonal" low-skill workers. S. 2284 would have ultimately harmed American workers by creating exemptions which potentially could triple the number of H-2B workers in the U.S. at any given time.

Voted against amendment to cap employment-based visas in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Bingaman Amendment (SA 4131) to to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Bingaman Amendment would cap the number of employment-based visas for workers, spouses and children at 650,000. Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation estimates that the Bingaman Amendment would reduce employment-based visas available under S. 2611 by about 150,000 a year. The Bingaman Amendment passed by a vote of 51 to 47.

Voted against amendment to limit proposed guestworker program in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Dorgan Amendment (SA 4095) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Dorgan Amendment would have prohibited the issuance of new H-2C "guestworker" visas after five years, but authorized DHS to continue to extend the authorized stay of an H-2C alien after that date. This would have reduced the number of new guestworkers under S. 2611 from two million to one million (200,000 per year for five years instead of 10 years). The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 48 to 49.

Voted against amendment to create additional guestworker visa categories in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Hutchison Amendment (SA 4101) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Hutchison Amendment would require the State Department to grant a Secure Authorized Foreign Employee (SAFE) visa to a national of a NAFTA or CAFTA nation who meets specified requirements. The "E" visa is already a visa for treaty-trader countries, thus the Hutchison Amendment would have just created more unnecessary "guestworker" categories. The Hutchison Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 67.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to postpone guestworker-amnesty program until borders secured in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Cornyn Amendment (SA 3691, proposed for Sen. Isakson) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Cornyn Amendment would prohibit DHS from implementing any guestworker program or granting amnesty as proposed by the bill unless the agency has certified that this bill’s border security measures and increases in Federal detention space have been completed and are fully operational. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 40-55.

Voted on Senate floor to kill amendment to strike guestworker provisions from immigration bill 2006

Sen. Graham voted for a motion to table the Dorgan Amendment (SA 4017) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Dorgan amendment would have stricken the guestworker provisions of the bill that would add an estimated 8.4 million foreign workers and their dependents over the next ten years (according to a May, 2006 study by the Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector). The motion to table passed by a voted of 68 to 29, effectively killing the Dorgan amendment.

Voted on Senate floor to kill amendment to cap guestworker visas in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of a motion to table the Bingaman Amendment (SA 3981) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . This was a procedural move to terminate further discussion of the amendment. The Bingaman amendment (submitted by Sen. Bingaman for himself and Sen. Feinstein) would cap the number of H-2C visas available annually for issuance at 200,000 and remove the 20% a year increase in annual guestworker visas. This would reduce the 10-year increase in foreign workers and their dependents from 8.4 million, as provided in the original bill, to two million. The motion to table the Bingaman amendment failed by a vote of 18 to 79 and the Bingaman amendment ultimately passed by voice vote.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to increase worker protections in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Cornyn amendment (SA 3965) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Cornyn amendment (submitted for himself and Sen. Grassley) would offer modest protections for American workers from being displaced by a foreign worker by prohibiting H-2C visas for employers unless they attest that they will employ an alien in the offered job position and DHS certifies that there are not sufficient U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to fill the position. The Cornyn amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 48.

	Voted on Senate floor for amendment to weaken worker protections in 2006
	Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Kennedy amendment (SA 4066) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Kennedy amendment weakens Sen. Cornyn's amendment (SA 3965) by not requiring Federal certification of the employer's need to import foreign workers. The Kennedy amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 43.

Voted in committee against an amendment to increase immigration fees in 2005

Sen. Graham voted against the Hatch Amendment to the Specter Budget Reconciliation Plan that was attached to the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, S. 1932. The Specter plan (as amendment and passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee) would increase permanent, employment-based immigration by nearly tripling the number of foreign workers who can enter the U.S. each year. As well, it exempts workers’ families from the 140,000-visa cap on employment-based immigration. It also raises the cap on employment-based permanent immigration by adding each year the lesser of 90,000 visas or any "unused" employment-based visas from any prior year. Altogether, these provisions could generate a net increase in permanent immigration of 366,000 aliens, or about one-third of current, annual legal immigration. The Hatch Amendment was a substitute amendment to increase raise immigration fees by five percent across the board.

Voted in committee in favor of amendment to cut in half proposal to import additional foreign workers in 2005

Sen. Graham voted as part of the Judiciary Committee in favor of the Feinstein Amendment to the Specter Budget Reconciliation Plan that was attached to Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, S. 1932. The Feinstein Amendment cut the additional H-1B visas proposed in the Specter proposal in half (from 60,000 to 30,000) and added a $750 fee on L-1 visas. The Specter plan (as amendment and passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee) would increase permanent, employment-based immigration by nearly tripling the number of foreign workers who can enter the U.S. each year. As well, it exempts workers’ families from the 140,000-visa cap on employment-based immigration. It also raises the cap on employment-based permanent immigration by adding each year the lesser of 90,000 visas or any “unused” employment-based visas from any prior year. Altogether, these provisions could generate a net increase in permanent immigration of 366,000 aliens, or about one-third of current, annual legal immigration.

Voted against amendment to strip foreign-worker increase in 2005

Sen. Graham voted against the Byrd Amendment to S. 1932, the Budget Reconciliation bill. The amendment, introduced by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), would have stripped ALL immigration increases from the Budget Reconciliation bill and replaced the increase with a provision to impose a $1,500 fee on employers who hire certain non-immigrants. The immigration increase was added to the Budget Reconciliation bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee as a result of an 14-2 vote in favor of an amendment introduced by Senator Arlen Specter. The Specter plan would increase permanent, employment-based immigration by nearly tripling the number of foreign workers who can enter the U.S. each year. As well, it exempts workers’ families from the 140,000-visa cap on employment-based immigration. It also raises the cap on employment-based permanent immigration by adding each year the lesser of 90,000 visas or any “unused” employment-based visas from any prior year. Altogether, these provisions could generate a net increase in permanent immigration of 366,000 aliens, or about one-third of current, annual legal immigration. Senator Byrd’s amendment was cosponsored by Sens. Sessions (R-AL) and Durbin (D-IL). It was also supported by the AFL-CIO. The Byrd Amendment failed by a vote of 14 to 85.

Voted in favor of amendment to increase foreign-worker importation in 2005

Sen. Graham voted in favor of S. Amdt. 387, an amendment offered by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), to H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005. The Mikulski amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act increased the number of H-2Bs who can enter and take jobs in the United States in the next two years and apportioned the H-2B visa cap so that visas will be available throughout the year. Specifically, the Mikulski Amendment would split the H-2B visa cap so no more than 33,000 visas are made available for the first six months the fiscal year, and another 33,000 visas would be available in the second half of the year. HOWEVER, the Mikulski Amendment exempts from the annual cap aliens granted an H-2B visa within three years prior to approval of an H-2B petition, thus potentially TRIPLING the number of H-2B workers in the United States at any one time. Although apportioning H-2B visas is a common-sense approach that will help prevent the situation that occurred in FY 2004 and FY2005 when the 66,000 annual cap on H-2B (low-skill) nonimmigrant visas was hit within the first quarter of the year, the Mikulski Amendment would ultimately harm American workers by creating exemptions which potentially could triple the number of H-2B workers in the U.S. at any given time. Fortunately, however, the increase is limited to two years, and the additional visas can go only to foreign workers who worked in this country legally during the last three years. The Amendment passed by a vote of 94 to 6.

Cosponsored S. 211, expressing opposition to the foreign-worker importation program in 2003

Sen. Graham cosponsored S. Res. 211, a sense of the Senate resolution regarding the immigration provisions of the Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreements. The Chile and Singapore Free Trade Agreements permit an unlimited number of Singaporeans and Chileans to enter the U.S. each year as "treaty traders or investors" who are coming to the U.S. to carry on trade between the U.S. and Singapore or Chile. S. Res. 211 expressed the sense of the Senate that trade agreements are not the appropriate vehicle for enacting or changing immigration law and said that future trade agreements should not contain immigration-related provisions. S. Res. 211 was passed by the Senate on Unanimous Consent.

Voted for unlimited immigration provisions in the Chile and Singapore trade agreements in committee in 2003

Sen. Graham voted against American workers by voting as part of the Senate Judiciary Committee for S. 1417, the Singapore Free Trade Agreement, and S. 1416, the Chile Free Trade Agreement. Both trade agreements contain immigration provisions of that provide for unlimited tech and professional work visas, indefinite extensions and absolutely zero protections to give American workers first crack at the jobs. Futhermore, as outlined in the trade agreements, it would be against international law for Congress to ever try to change those rules. The trade agreements passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 11-4.

Voted in 2000 for importing more foreign workers

Rep. Graham voted as part of the House Judiciary Committee for H.R.4227 in 2000. This legislation would have removed the cap on the number of H-1B visas available for three years PROVIDED THAT the worker protections from the 1998 H-1B bill be implemented. Although the bill would have allowed an unlimited number of H-1B visa holders into the country, thus increasing overall numbers, the legislation did contain important worker protections and fraud prevention measures. Among these provisions, H.R.4227 would have required that H-1Bs work full time and are paid more than $40,000 a year. It would also have required that employers provide the Labor Department with information about each H-1B visa holder and that information is posted on the Internet. The legislation passed the committee 18-11.

Voted in committee for worker protections in 2000
Rep. Graham voted as part of the House Judiciary Committee for the Smith/Jackson Lee/Goodlatte Amendment to H.R.4227. This amendment required that the worker protections from the 1998 AICWA (H-1B) bill be in effect by September 1, 2000. These are important worker protections that were included in the 1998 H-1B increase bill, but have yet to be put into effect. The amendment passed 24-7.

	Voted against minority hiring and recruitment in 2000
	Rep. Graham voted AGAINST the Waters amendment to H.R.4227. This amendment would have required corporations to show some level of hiring and recruitment among Blacks and Hispanics, or the H-1B program would be shut down. The amendment was defeated 12-17.

Nearly doubled H-1B foreign high-tech workers in 1998

Rep. Graham helped the House pass H.R.3736. Enacted into law, it increased by nearly 150,000 the number of foreign workers high-tech American companies could hire over the next three years. Although the foreign workers receive temporary visas for up to six years, most historically have found ways to stay permanently in this country. Rep. Graham voted for more foreign workers even though U.S. high tech workers over the age of 50 were suffering 17% unemployment and U.S. firms were laying off thousands of workers at the time.

Voted in 1998 to allow firms to lay off Americans to make room for foreign workers

Before the House passed the H-1B doubling bill (H.R.3736), Rep. Graham had an opportunity to vote for a Watt Substitute bill that would have forbidden U.S. firms from using temporary foreign workers to replace Americans. Rep. Graham opposed that protection. The substitute also would have required U.S. firms to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. Rep. Graham voted against that. The protections for American workers fell 33 votes short of passing.

Tried to create massive new foreign agriculture worker program in 1996

Rep. Graham voted IN FAVOR of the Pombo Amendment to H.R.2202. He was voting for a massive new program that would have allowed agri-business to import up to 250,000 foreign farm workers each year for a period of service of less than a year. A bi-partisan congressional commission working with the Bush Administration (1989-93) had concluded that there were at least 190,000 farm workers already in America who were out of work at any given time. The federal commission said the oversupply of farmworkers was a major reason why farm workers’ real incomes had fallen by almost half over the previous two decades. Rep. Graham rejected the recommendations of the commission and took the side of growers who asked for a larger labor supply. The amendment -- which had no provisions for ensuring that the temporary workers did not stay in the U.S. as illegal aliens -- failed by a 180-242 vote.

Tried to continue foreign nurse guestworker program in 1996

Rep. Graham supported continuing a guestworker program for foreign nurses through his vote IN FAVOR of the Burr Amendment to H.R.2202. Those favoring the amendment said many rural areas had a shortage of nurses and needed the foreign workers. The 262-154 majority, however, let the foreign nurses program end, contending that there are more than enough Americans trained in nursing to do the job if the pay and working conditions are appropriate.

Sen. Graham has taken no action to reduce
the rewarding of illegal immigration by giving citizenship
to anchor babies.

Inviting / Repelling Illegal Aliens top

Voted against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens in 2009

Sen. Graham voted against tabling an amendment (SA 2630) sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill (H.R. 2847). The Vitter Amendment, if adopted, would have prevented federal funds from going to states and municipalities with sanctuary policies in place that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and, potentially, terrorists. Sanctuary policies bar public officials, including police officers, from asking an individual's immigration status and from reporting illegal aliens to federal authorities. In 1996, Congress passed a law that specifically prohibits state and local governments from enacting sanctuary policies. Despite that, cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, still have sanctuary policies in place. Maine is the only state with a sanctuary policy. The Vitter Amendment would have been a huge incentive for states and municipalities to rescind their sanctuary policies. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 61 to 38 (7 October 2009, 5:56 PM), effectively killing the amendment.

Supported an amendment to complete 700 miles of border fencing in 2009
Sen. Graham supported the DeMint amendment to H.R. 2892, the DHS Appropriations bill. The DeMint amendment mandates that the 700 miles of border fencing (which was previously approved and appropriated for) be completed. The DeMint amendment passed 54-44.

Supported an amendment to permanently reauthorize the E-Verify system in 2009

Sen. Graham opposed a motion to table the Sessions amendment to H.R. 2892, the DHS Appropriations bill (by voting against the motion to table, the Senator was supporting the amendment). The Sessions amendment authorizes E-Verify permanently, mandates that any business getting a federal contract must run all new hires through E-Verify, and mandates that every existing employee who works on the government contracts must be run through E-Verify. Thus, for the first time, E-Verify can be used to root out illegal aliens who were previously hired. The existing employee provision only applies to that part of a company actually working on the government contract. The motion to table the Sessions amendment failed 44-53 and the amendment passed via a voice vote.

Supported an amendment to prevent illegal aliens from acquiring credit cards in 2009
Sen. Graham supported the Vitter Amendment to H.R. 627, The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009. This amendment would have required the banks that issue credit cards to ensure that those granted credit cards are in the United States legally by obliging the banks to verify the identity of applicants using REAL ID-compliant documents. The amendment failed 28-65.

Voted to extend E-Verify in 2009

Sen. Graham voted against tabling Sen. Jeff Sessions' amendment to the 2009 Omnibus Spending Bill (H.R. 1105). Sen. Sessions' amendment would have reauthorized the E-Verify program for a period of five years. The E-Verify program had received several short-term extensions (H.R. 1105 contained a short-term extension). The Senate leadership decided to table Sessions amendment rather than allow a floor vote. By voting against the tabling of Sen. Sessions' amendment your Senator supported the long-term reauthorization of E-Verify. The final vote was 50-47 (10 March 2009, 5:27 PM)

Voted in favor of increased border security funding and enforcement in 2008

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to S CON RES 70. This amendment would increase funding for border security, guarantee 700 miles of fencing, place 6,000 National Guardsmen on the border, and reimburse state and local law enforcement. The amendment passed 61 to 37. A second amendment, the Menendez Amendment to S CON RES 70 was also passed by the Senate. This amendment has the same purpose as the Sessions Amendment, but uses weaker and less-clear text. The Menendez Amendment does not guarantee the number of National Guardsmen on the border, proclaim a zero-tolerance policy in illegal aliens, or guarantee border fencing. The Menendez Amendment passed 53-45 (13 March 2008; 4:29pm).

Voted against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens in 2008

Sen. Graham voted against tabling an amendment (SA 4309) sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to (S. Con. Res. 70), a concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009. The Vitter Amendment, if adopted, would have created a reserve fund to ensure that Federal assistance does not go to sanctuary cities that ignore the immigration laws of the United States and create safe havens for illegal aliens and potential terrorists. Sanctuary policies bar public officials, including police officers, from asking an individual's immigration status and from reporting illegal aliens to federal authorities. In 1996, Congress passed a law that specifically prohibits state and local governments from enacting sanctuary policies. Despite that, cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, still have sanctuary policies in place. Maine is the only state with a sanctuary policy. The Vitter Amendment would have been a huge incentive for states and municipalities to rescind their sanctuary policies. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 58 to 40, effectively killing the amendment.

Voted against rewarding illegal aliens with amnesty in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2205, The "Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007." The DREAM Act amnesty would not just offer U.S. citizenship to illegal alien teenagers, it also would provide amnesty to the parents of most of them. An analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies found that the DREAM Act would offer amnesty to 2.1 million illegal aliens (Once the amnestied teens become citizens they can obtain an amnesty for their parents. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 52 to 44 (60 YES votes were needed for cloture to pass and to prevent a filibuster). Click here to read a summary of the bill.

Voted in favor of funding state and local law enforcement assistance in enforcement of Federal immigration laws

Sen. Graham voted against tabling an amendment (SA 3313) offered by Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) to H.R. 3093 (Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008). The Dole Amendment would have appropriated $75 million to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for general support of state and local law enforcement's assistance in the enforcement of Federal immigration laws. The vote to table the amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 42, effectively killing the amendment.

Voted against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against tabling an amendment (SA 3277) sponsored by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill (H.R. 3093). The Vitter Amendment, if adopted, would have prevented the Federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program funds from going to states and municipalities with sanctuary policies in place that protect illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and, potentially, terrorists. Sanctuary policies bar public officials, including police officers, from asking an individual's immigration status and from reporting illegal aliens to federal authorities. In 1996, Congress passed a law that specifically prohibits state and local governments from enacting sanctuary policies. Despite that, cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, still have sanctuary policies in place. Maine is the only state with a sanctuary policy. The Vitter Amendment would have been a huge incentive for states and municipalities to rescind their sanctuary policies. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 52 to 42, effectively killing the amendment.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to increase enforcement and delay amnesty in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against the Coburn Amendment (SA 1131) to S. 1348. The Coburn Amendment would have added some teeth to the underlying measure's so-called enforcement "triggers" and would surely have delayed the granting of any amnesty to illegal aliens or the importation of any additional "temporary" nonimmigrant workers. Specifically, the Coburn Amendment required DHS, in addition to the mechanisms needed to "trigger" implementation of the bill's amnesty and guestworker provisions, to certify the implementation of various border security and interior enforcement measures (e.g., all statutorily-required border fencing has been constructed, US-VISIT is fully operational, "sanctuary cities" are prohibited, denying aliens who are likely to become public charges admission into the United States, etc.). It also required the president to certify that all of these "triggering" mechanisms are fully implemented and operational and, subsequently, required Congress to approve the certification – all of this prior to implementation of amnesty and guestworker provisions. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to create a disincentive to amnesty in 2007

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1250) to S. 1348. The Cornyn Amendment prohibits illegal aliens seeking amnesty under this bill (in this case, "probationary status") from submitting "sworn affidavits from nonrelatives" as proof of unlawful work or unlawful presence in the United States. It eliminates provisions protecting the confidentiality of the information contained in amnesty applications and, instead, requires the sharing of application-related information upon the request of a law enforcement agency, intelligence, or national security agency, or DHS component when requested in connection with a duly-authorized investigation of a civil violation. The Cornyn Amendment would not only serve as a disincentive for illegal aliens to seek amnesty, but it also would encourage cooperation between the Federal government and state and local governments in the effort to do what has not been done enough in recent decades – enforce our immigration laws. The Cornyn Amendment passed by a vote of 57 to 39.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to increase illegal immigration in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against the Bingaman Amendment (SA 1267) to S. 1348 to The Bingaman Amendment would have removed the requirement that Y "temporary" nonimmigrant workers (as provided for in the underlying legislation) leave the United States before they renew their visas – not by modifying the length of their authorized stay (i.e., up to six years), but by mandating that they be given visas that expire after two years and that are renewable twice. By not requiring "temporary" workers to even prove their status as "guests" in our country, this amendment would encourage more visa overstays and further disregard for the rule of law. The Bingamen Amendment failed by a vote of 41 to 57.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to bar certain criminals from United States in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1184) to S. 1385 to establish a permanent bar for gang members, terrorists, and other criminals. The Cornyn Amendment would have permanently barred from admission into the United States, and denied immigration benefits (including legal status under the amnesty in this bill), to: (1) absconders (i.e., aliens already ordered deported); (2) aliens deemed inadmissible or deportable as security risks (e.g., terrorists); (3) aliens who fail to register as sex offenders; (4) aliens convicted of certain firearms offenses; (5) aliens convicted of domestic violence, stalking, crimes against children, or violation of protection orders; (6) alien gang members; and (7) aliens convicted of at least three DUIs. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 46 to 51.

	Voted against amendment to strip amnesty provisions from S. 1348 in 2007
	Sen. Graham voted against the Vitter Amendment (SA 1157) to S. 1348. The Vitter Amendment would strike the amnesty provisions of the bill. The Vitter Amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 66.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to increase interior enforcement in 2007

Sen. Graham voted against the Coleman Amendment (SA 1158) to S. 1348 to enable state and local officials to inquire about a person’s immigration status for law enforcement and benefit application purposes. The Coleman Amendment would make it more difficult for illegal aliens to benefit from sanctuary policies (already explicitly prohibited under Federal law). The Coleman Amendment failed by vote of 48-49.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to deter employers from hiring of illegal aliens in 2007
Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. The Sessions Amendment (S. Amdt. 100) would prohibit employers who hire illegal aliens from receiving government contracts. This would serve as a disincentive to hire illegal aliens and a step toward removing the job-magnet for illegal immigration. The Sessions Amendment passed by a vote of 94-0.

Voted in favor of border fence in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of final passage of H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006. H.R. 6061: requires the Department of Homeland Security to construct 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border; provides for the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors in five specified lengths (encompassing approximately 700 miles) along the United States’ southwestern border; requires DHS to study the necessity, feasibility, and economic impact of constructing a similar barrier along the U.S.-Canada border; enhances border infrastructure, including checkpoints, roads, and vehicle barriers; and requires DHS to achieve and maintain "operational control" of our borders within 18 months of enactment and require reports on the progress toward this goal. The Senate passed H.R. 6061 passed by a vote of 80 to 19.

Voted in favor of amendment to fund border fence in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Sessions amendment to H.R. 5631, the Department of of Defense Appropriations bill for 2007. This was an amendment to appropriate $1.8 billion for the construction of border fencing and vehicle barriers along the southern border. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), would fund the fencing and barrier provisions proposed by S. 2611 which passed the Senate in late May. A fence is one of the most effective tools for preventing illegal migration. The Sessions Amendment passed by a voted 94-3.

	Voted against amendment to fund additional immigration investigators in 2006
	Sen. Graham voted against the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for 2007. This was an amendment to add about $86 million for 800 more staff to investigate immigration law violations, offset by reductions in other programs. The Sessions Amendment failed by a vote of 34 to 66.

Voted against amendment to extend border fence in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for 2007. This was an amendment to add 370 miles of fence on the Southwest border paid for by $1.8 billion in offsets from other programs. A fence is one of the most effective tools for preventing illegal migration. This amendment would have funded the fence provided for in the Senate-passed bill (S. 2611). The Sessions Amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 71.

Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to kill border fence in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Manager's Amendment (SA 4188), offered by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Manager's Amendment made many minor changes to S. 2611, none of have significant numeric impacts on the overall bill. However, the Manager's Amendment included a provision that requires consultation with the government of Mexico concerning the construction of additional fencing and related border security structures along the international border between the United States and Mexico. This would virtually guarantee that the fence along the U.S.-Mexico border would never be completed. The Manager's Amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 41 to 1 (the 1 denotes a "present" vote).

Voted against amendment to make two million illegal aliens eligible for amnesty in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Feinstein Amendment (SA 4087) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Feinstein Amendment would have made an additional two million illegal aliens eligible for amnesty by replacing the bill's "earned legalization" amnesty and Deferred Mandatory Departure provisions with a one-tiered scheme in which all aliens illegally present in the United States on or before January 1, 2006, are granted amnesty and an "orange card" (instead of the normal "green card" that lawful permanent residents are issued) if they are otherwise admissible. The, after a 6-8 year period, orange card holders are allowed to adjust to Lawful Permanent Resident status if they pay a $2,000 fine. The Feinstein Amendment failed by a vote of 37 to 61.

Voted to authorize National Guard to assist in border patrol efforts in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Ensign Amendment (SA 4076) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The Ensign Amendment authorizes the Governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas - with Defense Department approval – to order their state's National Guard units or personnel to assist in border patrol efforts (with certain restrictions) along the United States' southern land border. Even though the National Guard would not be directly participating in the apprehension of illegal aliens, they would facilitate the work of the Border Patrol. The Ensign Amendment passed by a vote of 83-10.

Voted on Senate floor in favor amendment to create border fence in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Sessions amendment (SA 3979) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Sessions amendment requires DHS to construct at least 370 miles of triple-layered fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers in other areas along the southwest border that DHS determines are areas that are most often used by smugglers and illegal aliens attempting to gain illegal entry, and requires that construction thereof be completed within two years. This physical barrier would help deter illegal entry into the United States. The Sessions amendment passed by a vote of 83 to 16.

Voted on Senate floor against amendment to remove amnesty provisions from immigration bill in 2006

Sen. Graham voted against the Vitter amendment (SA 3963) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . Sen. Vitter submitted the amendment for himself, Sens. Chambliss, Grassley, and Santorum. The Vitter amendment would remove provisions authorizing the “earned legalization” and “agricultural worker” amnesty schemes that would grant amnesty to an estimated 16 million illegal aliens and their families (according to a May, 2006 study by the Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector). The Vitter amendment failed by a vote of 33 to 66.

Voted on Senate floor to kill amendment to prevent Social Security for illegal aliens in 2006

Sen. Graham voted in favor of a motion to table the Ensign amendment (SA 3985) to S. 2611, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 . The Ensign amendment (submitted for himself, Sen. Santorum, and Sen. Inhofe), would have prohibited the payment of Social Security benefits based on quarters of coverage earned by an individual who has not at some point had a valid Social Security number. This would have addressed part of the problem of aliens getting Social Security credit for work performed while they were illegally present in the United States (aliens who came in on temporary work visas, but overstayed their visas, would continue to get credit for all work performed, including after they became illegal). The motion to table the Ensign amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 49, effectively killing the amendment.

Voted in favor of amendment to increase detention beds for illegal aliens in 2005
Sen. Graham voted in favor of the McCain amendment (S. Amdt. 1171) to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The McCain amendment would have increased the number of detention beds in the United States consistent with the number authorized in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The McCain amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 56.

Voted in favor of amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol agents in 2005

Sen. Graham voted in favor of the Ensign Amendment (SA 1219) to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The Ensign Amendment transfers appropriated funds from the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the purpose of hiring 1,000 additional Border Patrol agents. The amendment failed by a vote of 38 to 60.

Cosponsoring massive guestworker-amnesty bill in 2005-2006

Sen. Graham is a cosponsor of S. 1033, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act . S. 1033 clearly spells out a path to jobs and residency for illegal aliens. Among the significant immigration-increase provisions of the bill are: a new visa category (H-5A) for 400,000 low-skill foreign workers (this cap can be adjusted upwards); a provision for the H-5A temporary workers to apply for permanent resident status after four years; a new temporary 6-year visa category (H-5B) for illegal aliens (and their spouses and children) already in the country; an amnesty for illegal aliens who apply for an H-5B visa and pay a $2,000 fine; an increase of 150,000 visas per year for employment-based immigrants; and an exemption of immediate relatives (spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens) from the annual level of 480,000 family-sponsored immigrant visas thereby providing 254,000 additional visas to the family preference categories. S. 1033 contains modest measures to increase border security such as creation of a Border Security Committee and creation of a new electronic work authorization system that would eventually replace the current "I-9" system. S. 1033 would also require the federal government to reimburse hospitals for the cost of providing emergency health care to H-5A and H-5B workers. Companion legislation, H.R. 2330, has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Jim Kolbe (R-AZ).

Voted against amnesty for agricultural workers in 2005

Sen. Graham voted against a procedural move requiring 60 votes to limit debate and ensure a vote on the AgJOBS amnesty amendment introduced by Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID). The Senate voted 53 to 45 not to invoke cloture, effectively keeping the amnesty off the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief. AgJOBS is an amnesty for agricultural workers. Of the 1.2 million illegal aliens currently working in agriculture, an estimated 860,000 plus their spouses and children could qualify for this amnesty, so the total could reach three million or more. The potential recipients of the amnesty would be required to prove 100 days of agricultural employment in the 18-month period that ended Aug. 31, 2004. Then, prior to receiving amnesty, workers would have to show 360 days of additional farm work over the next six years.

Voted against amendment to provide funding for additional Border Patrol and ICE agents in 2005

Sen. Graham voted against the Byrd Amendment (S. Amdt. 516) to H.R. 1268, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief of 2005. The Byrd Amendment provides $390 million to hire 650 more border patrol agents, 250 new immigration investigators, and 168 new immigration enforcement agents and deportation officers. The Byrd amendment also provides funds for 2,000 additional detention beds as well as funding to train the new personnel. Passage of the Byrd Amendment sent a strong signal from the Senate in favor of increased Border Patrol and Interior Enforcement. The Byrd Amendment passed by a vote of 65 to 34.

Voted in committee against rewarding illegal aliens with in-state tuition and amnesty in 2003

Sen. Graham voted as part of the Judiciary Committee against S. 1545, the so-called DREAM Act. S. 1545 would have granted in-state tuition and amnesty to illegal aliens under the age of 21 who have been physically present in the country for five years and are in 7th grade or above. Such a reward for illegal immigration serves as an incentive for more illegal immigration. Sen. Graham was one of only three Senators on the Judiciary Committee who voted against the DREAM Act. S. 1545 passed the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 16-3.

Cosponsored so-called guestworker program to create amnesty for illegal aliens in 2003-2004

Sen. Graham cosponsored the Border Security and Immigration Improvement Act, S. 1461. This bill would have created a legalization process for almost all illegal aliens who would have then been eligible for green cards after 6 years. Under the provisions of S. 1461, an illegal alien would have received a 3-year H-4B visa. At the end of 3 years, the alien could adjust to an H-4A "guestworker" visa, valid for 3 years. Following this second 3-year period (a total of 6 years), the alien could self-petition for a green card. However, an employer can petition for a green card for any H-4A visa holder, regardless of how long the alien employee has been in the U.S. A companion bill, H.R. 2899 was introduced in the House of Representatives.

Voted to authorize the use of the military to assist in border control efforts in 2002

Rep. Graham voted in favor of H. Amdt. 479 to H.R. 4546, the Department of Defense Authorization bill. The amendment authorized the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military, under certain circumstances, to assist the Bureau of Border Security and U.S. Customs Service of the Department of Homeland Security on preventing the entry of terrorists, drug traffickers, and illegal aliens into the United States The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Goode of Virginia, passed the House by a vote of 232-183.

Voted AGAINST Section 245(i), a form of amnesty for illegal aliens in 2002

Rep. Graham voted AGAINST H RES 365 which was brought up and passed in a new form in March of 2002. The vote against the bill was a vote against rewarding illegal aliens via a four-month reinstatement of Section 245(i). That is an expired immigration provision that allows illegal aliens with qualified relatives or employers in the U.S. to pay a $1,000 fine, to apply for a green card in this country, and to be allowed to stay in this country without fear of deportation until their turn arrives for a green card years, and even decades, later. The illegal aliens also would not have to go through the usual security screening in U.S. embassies in their home countries. The lowest estimate from supporters of the bill was that some 200,000 illegal aliens would benefit. H RES 365 also included language that would have implemented some important visa-tracking regulations helpful to discouraging illegal immigration. But all of those provisions had already been passed previously in H.R. 3525, making the assistance to illegal aliens the sole purpose of the bill. Rep. Graham was one of 137 Representatives who voted AGAINST the 245(i) amnesty. The bill narrowly passed by a vote of 275 to 137 (a two-thirds majority was needed in order to pass).

Voted in favor of a four-month extension of Section 245(i) in 2001

Rep. Graham voted on the floor of the House IN FAVOR OF a motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1885, a four-month extension of Section 245(i), which is a de facto amnesty in that current federal policy did not deport illegal aliens once they applied for Section 245(i) and allowed them to remain in the U.S. for years until they were allowed to become official immigrants. The vote on the four-month extension represented a compromise of the White House push for a longer extension. Even though the four month extension was better than a year-long or permanent extension, it still would have resulted in at least 200,000 more people being added to the country through illegal immigration. Rep. Graham was part of a 336-43 majority voting in favor of the four-month extension of Section 245(i). It did not become law, though.

Voted to authorize troops on the border in 2001.
Rep. Graham voted to enforce the border by voting for the Traficant amendment to HR 2586. This amendment authorized the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, to request that members of the Armed Forces assist the INS with border control duties. The Traficant amendment passed by a vote of 242 to 173, but this measure was never considered by the Senate.

Voted in 2000 to authorize troops on the border.
Rep. Graham acted to enforce the border by voting for the Traficant amendment to H.R.4205. This amendment authorizes the Secretary of Defense, under certain circumstances, to assign members of the Armed Forces to assist the INS with border control duties. The Traficant amendment passed by a vote of 243 to 183, but the Clinton Administration never chose to exercise this power.

	Voted against authorizing the use of troops on the border in 1999
	Rep. Graham voted against the Trafficant Amendment to H.R. 1401. This amendment authorized the Secretary of Defense, under certain circumstances, to assign members of the Armed Forces to assist the Border Patrol and Customs Service only in drug interdiction and counter terrorism activities along our borders. The Traficant amendment passed by a vote of 242 to 181.

Voted to kill pro-illegal alien Section 245(i) program in 1997

Graham voted for the Rohrabacher Motion to H.R.2267 as one of 153 Members who went on record as insisting on killing the notorious pro-illegal-immigration program called Section 245(i). The program dealt with certain illegal aliens who were on lists that could qualify them eventually for legal residency. It provided them a loophole in which they could pay a fee and avoid a 1996 law’s provision that punishes illegal aliens by barring them for 10 years from entering the U.S. on a legal visa as a student, tourist, worker or immigrant. The controversial experimental program was scheduled to “sunset” late in 1997 and be automatically taken off the books. But the Senate voted to permanently continue the pro-illegal immigration program by attaching it to an appropriations bill. House leaders, though, refused to include the program in the House appropriations bill. That meant the issue would be decided in a joint Senate/House Conference Committee. Representatives wanting to make sure that House Conferees fought the Senate stance, brought a “Motion to Instruct” to the floor. The motion would make clear House opposition to the Section 245(i) program. Rep. Graham resisted intense lobbying from immigration attorneys and businesses that rely on illegal labor, voting to “instruct” the Conferees to kill the program. House Conferees succeeded in doing just that.

Voted to crack down on illegal immigration in 1996

Rep. Graham was part of a 333-87 majority which passed H.R.2202. It was a large omnibus bill with dozens of provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration. It authorized major increases in the border patrol forces. But it also had many provisions aimed at making life more miserable for illegal aliens who manage to get into the country, half of whom arrive with legal visas but then illegally overstay. Until passage of the bill, a person could be apprehended as an illegal alien, be deported and then turn around and come back to the U.S. on a legal student, tourist, worker or relative visa. After the bill, an illegal alien was barred from any kind of legal entry for 10 years.

	Opposed mandatory workplace verification programs in 1996
	Rep. Graham voted AGAINST the Gallegly Amendment to H.R.2202. That amendment would have made pilot workplace verification programs (see above) mandatory in five of the top seven immigration states. The amendment failed 86-331 under complaints that businesses and states should have more choice in whether to participate in programs to keep illegal aliens from taking jobs.

Protected voluntary pilot programs for workplace verification in 1996

Rep. Graham voted AGAINST the Chabot Amendment to H.R.2202. His vote was one in favor of setting up voluntary pilot programs in high-immigration states that would assist employers in verifying whether people they had just hired had the legal right to work in this country. Such verification is considered by many experts to be an essential tool for withdrawing the job magnet from illegal aliens. The verification system established by H.R.2202 did not involve an ID card. Rather it provided that when new workers wrote down their Social Security number on an application, employers could phone into a national verification system to help assure that the number was a real number and belonged to the person giving it. In earlier smaller pilot programs, businesses had hailed the verification system for making it easier for them to avoid hiring illegal aliens. But a coalition of conservative pro-business Members and of liberal civil libertarians tried to kill the verification program as too intrusive into the private rights of businesses and workers. Opposing that coalition, Rep. Graham was part of a 260-159 majority that preserved the voluntary pilot programs.

Tell Senator Graham what you think of his immigration record.
Phone:	(202) 224-5972
Fax:	(202) 224-3808
E-Mail:	email available via website.
Website:	http://lgraham.senate.gov
D.C. Address:	SR - 290, United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
District Offices	101 East Washington Street Suite 220 Greenville, SC 29601 (864) 250-1417 (V), (864) 250-4322 (F)
	530 Johnnie Dodd Blvd. Suite 202 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 (843) 849-3887 (V)
	140 East Main Street Suite 110 Rock Hill, 29730 (803) 366-2828 (V)

Tell us if you think you see even the tiniest error on this page.
E-Mail us with corrections:	http://numbersusa.com/helpform