PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to Subcommittee on Immigration.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 21, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Enforcement Title II: Employer Sanctions Penalties and Authorities Title III: Presidential Plan for Employment Verification Title IV: Unfair Immigration-Related Employment Practices Title V: Protections for Battered Immigrants United States Worker Protection and Illegal Immigrant Deterrence Act of 1997 - Title I: Enforcement - Authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to hire additional Wage and Hour Division staff to enforce employer compliance with wage and hour and immigration-related provisions, with preference given to bilingual inspectors. (Sec. 102) Obligates specified funds for Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) workplace inspectors. Title II: Employer Sanctions Penalties and Authorities - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to revise and increase specified civil and criminal employer sanctions provisions. (Sec. 203) Retains collected employer fines above a specified amount for related INS enforcement activities. (Sec. 204) Directs the Attorney General to establish a Justice Department task force to provide guidelines with respect to unlawful employment of aliens and unfair immigration-related employment practices, and assist employers in related compliance. (Sec. 205) Grants the Secretary immigration-related subpoena authority. Title III: Presidential Plan for Employment Verification - Directs the President to develop an employment eligibility and immigrant status confirmation plan. Sets forth related provisions regarding; (1) privacy remedies and document restrictions; (2) liability protections; and (3) tort remedies for improper employment dismissal or denial. Title IV: Unfair Immigration-Related Employment Practices - Amends the Act to include an educational component in the mandatory contents of an unfair immigration-related discrimination order. (Sec. 402) Treats certain documentary practices as lawful employment practices. Title V: Protections for Battered Immigrants - Amends the Act with respect to battered immigrants to: (1) authorize waiver of certain status adjustment fees; (2) provide an exemption from summary exclusion; (3) authorize waiver of continuous presence requirement; (4) continue immigrant status eligibility subsequent to removal of the abuser spouse or parent; and (5) waive certain document fraud provisions.
People & committees
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D–MA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to Subcommittee on Immigration.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S704-705)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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