CRS report R43097 on S. 744

… <p>These triggers <em>would not </em><em>have </em><em>appl</em><em>ied</em> to adjustment of status for certain aliens who entered the United States as children (i.e., DREAMers) under Section 2103 of the bill or for aliens granted agricultural "blue card" status under Section 2201 of the bill. The timeline for these groups to adjust status is described in those two sections (see "<a href="#_Ref358033468">DREAM Act</a>" and "<a href="#_Ref358033526">Agricultural Worker Legalization</a>").</p> <h5>Notable Modifications during Senate Floor Debate</h5> <p>The Hoeven-Corker-Leahy Amendment modified the second set of <a href="http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/z?d113:S.744:"><span>S. 744</span></a> trigger provisions (i.e., the triggers for DHS to begin adjusting the status of persons from RPI to LPR status). The amendment would continue to exempt DREAMers and aliens granted blue cards; and it would not change language concerning the exception to the trigger requirement due to litigation, a Supreme Court ruling, or force majeure. But the amendment generally would augment and expand the main trigger requirements for DHS to begin adjusting RPIs to LPR status. In particular, DHS could not begin such adjustments until six <em>months after</em> the DHS Secretary, after consultation with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Defense, the Inspector General of DHS, and the Comptroller General of the United States, certifies to Congress and the President the following:</p><ul><li>The Comprehensive Southern Border Security Strategy includes certain elements added by the Hoeven-Corker-Leahy Amendment, and the Strategy is deployed and operational (see "Border Security Strategies and Metrics"). For purposes of the trigger provision, "operational" is defined to mean that the technology, infrastructure, and personnel deemed necessary by the Secretary (including specific technology allocations described in the bill, as modified) have been procured, funded, and generally are in current use by the Department to achieve effective control of the Southern border.</li> …