House panel approves homeland bill, bars Brazilian immigrants

[Catherina]

May 22, 2013, 2:27 pm
House panel approves homeland bill, bars Brazilian immigrants
By Erik Wasson

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a 2014 Homeland Security funding bill with a bipartisan voice vote. The bill is expected on the House floor in June.

In a surprise development, the committee approved an amendment from Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), which would effectively end immigration from Brazil.

The provision was included in order to pressure Brazil to extradite Brazilian-born Claudia Hoerig to the United States for trial in the murder of her husband, Air Force Major Karl Hoerig. The Ryan amendment does not affect travel visas or visas for temporary workers, an aide said.

It was passed despite urgings from Homeland subcommittee Chairman John Carter (R-Texas) and ranking member David Price (D-N.C.) that it would have far-reaching implications. The text of the amendment withholds all funding from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to process any immigration visa request for a Brazilian national.

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http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/americas/

[Socialistlemur]

1. Grandstanding

That Brazilian clause should be dropped in conference.

[Judi Lynn]

2. What a train wreck. This is a horrible idea. Poorly considered. n/t

[ocpagu]

3. Bizarre. As most things done by Republicans.

For a start, and as a general rule, countries do not extradite their own citizens. This applies to US, as well. In fact, the US even refuses to extradite NON-American citizens, such as the Cuban terrorist Luis Posada Carriles.

Second, US should know by now that reciprocity is THE golden rule of Brazilian diplomacy.

Let's see how far this will go.