Overview
Title
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the notification of appropriate elected officials prior to the placement of refugees in a State.
ELI5 AI
The CALL Act is a new rule that says important people in the government, like senators and representatives, need to be told before any new people called refugees move to their state. This is to make sure everyone knows what's happening, but it might slow things down a bit.
Summary AI
H. R. 8060, also known as the "Contacting All Local Legislators Act" or the "CALL Act," aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. It requires that before placing refugees in a state, the responsible parties must notify the state's Senators, the district's House Representative, and relevant state legislative officials. This change is intended to ensure that appropriate elected officials are made aware of refugee placements in their jurisdictions.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
H. R. 8060, known as the "Contacting All Local Legislators Act" or the "CALL Act," was introduced in the House of Representatives to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. The primary aim of this bill is to ensure that certain elected officials are notified before refugees are placed in a state. Specifically, the amendment requires notification to two U.S. Senators representing the state, the House Representative of the district where the refugee placement is to occur, and pertinent state legislative officials.
Summary of Significant Issues
While the intent of the bill is to increase transparency and communication with local and state officials regarding refugee resettlement, several issues arise:
Complexity and Delay in Process: The requirement to notify a wide range of officials, including federal and state legislators, might complicate and potentially delay the refugee resettlement process. Since time-sensitive actions often characterize refugee situations, this added step could slow down the critical provision of humanitarian aid.
Ambiguity in Notifications: The language of the bill does not clearly specify which "state legislative elected officials" are to be notified. This could lead to inconsistent implementations with some states or districts potentially misinterpreting who should actually receive notifications.
Lack of a Defined Notification Process: The bill does not outline the method or protocol for notifications. Without clarity, the process could be applied unevenly across different states, leading to inefficiency or confusion.
Consequences and Objections: There are no provisions for what happens if the officials are not notified or if they raise objections. This could result in procedural or legal conflicts, leaving the process without a clear resolution mechanism.
Impact on the Public Broadly
This bill, if enacted, would potentially change the landscape of how refugees are settled within the United States. For the general public, particularly those in areas receiving new refugee populations, this could mean greater awareness and involvement in the processes that affect their communities. However, the potential for delay and increased bureaucratic processes might also result in fewer refugees being placed promptly, affecting communities ready and willing to assist.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Refugees: This group could face delays in resettlement, potentially prolonging their stay in transitional situations without stable homes or communities.
State and Local Governments: The increased communication with elected officials might enhance local governance and community planning. However, it might also place additional administrative burdens on these bodies to manage and address the increased flow of information.
Legislators and Policymakers: Senators, House Representatives, and state legislative officials would gain more insight and control over the refugee resettlement process in their areas, but they might also be burdened with additional bureaucratic responsibilities.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Agencies involved in refugee resettlement may face additional challenges coordinating with multiple layers of government, complicating their mission to quickly resettle refugees.
In summary, while the bill aims to improve communication, it could also introduce complexities that affect the speed and efficiency of refugee resettlement. Careful consideration and potential amendments may be necessary to address the identified issues and achieve a balanced approach that meets both administrative and humanitarian needs.
Issues
The requirement to notify a broad group of elected officials prior to refugee placement could complicate and slow down the resettlement process, potentially delaying humanitarian efforts. (Section 2)
There is ambiguity in the amendment regarding which 'State legislative elected officials' need to be notified about refugee placement. It is unclear whether this includes all state legislators or only select officials, leading to potential confusion and inconsistency. (Section 2)
The amendment does not outline a specific process for carrying out notifications, which could result in uneven application and execution across various states or districts. (Section 2)
The amendment lacks provisions on the consequences of failing to notify the appropriate officials or managing objections from these officials, potentially leading to legal or procedural conflicts. (Section 2)
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill gives it the official name "Contacting All Local Legislators Act" or the “CALL Act”.
2. Notification of elected officials prior to refugee resettlement Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act requires that, before placing refugees in a specific area, officials must notify the state's Senators, the district's House Representative, and relevant state legislative officials.