2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of increasing chain migration.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639 which would increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote in favor of cloture was effectively a vote in favor of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of increasing chain migration.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote for cloture was effectively a vote in favor of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of increasing chain migration.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to increase chain migration by approximately 251,000 per year. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote in favor of cloture was effectively a vote in support of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to expand chain migration.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Clinton Amendment (SA 1183) to S. 1348 to 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.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase chain migration.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Menendez Amendment (SA 1194) to S. 1348 to increase near-term legal immigration by more than 100,000 each year by changing the cut-off date for reducing the backlog of family-sponsored immigration applicants from May 1, 2005, to January 1, 2007. The Menendez Amendment failed by a vote of 53 to 44.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to increase chain migration.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Akaka Amendment to S. 1348 to increase chain migration by exempting children of Filipino World War II veterans naturalized pursuant to the Immigration Act of 1990 from numerical limits on worldwide immigration. The Akaka Amendment passed by a vote of 87 to 9.

2006: Voted on Senate floor in favor of S. 2611 to increase chain migration Sen. Biden voted in favor of final passage of S. 2611 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]), a bill to increase chain migration through an annual increase in the family-preference visa cap of 254,000. In addition, S. 2611 includes a one-time-only permanent increase of 105,660 visas for exempt family of unused employment-based visa holders between 2001-2005. S. 2611 passed by a vote of 62 to 36 on May 25

2006: Voted for an increase in chain migration.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, which limited debate on the bill to increase chain migration through an annual increase in the family-preference visa cap of 254,000. In addition, S. 2611 includes a one-time-only permanent increase of 105,660 visas for exempt family of unused employment-based visa holders between 2001-2005. A vote to invoke cloture is essentially a vote for the bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 73 to 25.

2006: Voted in favor of procedural move to increase chain migration Sen. Biden voted for cloture on SA 3424, a compromise amnesty proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-Neb.) and Martinez (R-Fla.). This was a procedural vote that was highly tied up in partisan politics. Although it is impossible to know just why one voted against cloture

2006: Voted in committee for a proposal to increase chain migration.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Biden voted in favor of a proposal by Committee chair Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to increase chain migration through an annual increase in the family-preference visa cap of 254,000. In addition, the Specter proposal includes a one-time-only permanent increase of 105,660 visas for exempt family of unused employment-based visa holders between 2001-2005. The Judiciary Committee passed the Specter proposal by a vote of 12 to 6.

1996: Voted against the Simpson Amendment to end chain migration.
The Simpson Amendment to S.1664 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-Utah]) would have ended chain migration which the Census Bureau projects will double the U.S. population again in the next century. The Senate voted 80-20 to kill the reform sponsored by Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.).

1996: Voted against Feinstein Amendment which would reduce chain migration
Sen. Biden voted against the Feinstein Amendment to S 1664 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-Utah]) that would have significantly reduced chain migration by lowering annual admissions of spouses and minor children of citizens to 480,000 a year. The Feinstein Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), was defeated by a vote of 74 to 26.

1989-1990: Voted for bill that increased immigration limits (Kennedy)
Sen. Biden voted for S.358 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Ted Kennedy [D-Mass.]), a bill that ultimately removed or increased limits in most immigration categories. Mister President Biden voted to dramatically increase immigration levels by voting for this bill. S.358 passed 81-17, ultimately becoming the Immigration Act of 1990.

1996: Voted against the Simpson Amendment to reduce the immigration lottery.
The Simpson amendment to S.1664 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-Utah]) would have reduced the annual number of visas allocated to the lottery category from 55,000 to 27,000. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), failed by 80-20 on the Senate floor.

1996: Voted against the Feinstein Amendment which would eliminate the immigration lottery
Sen. Biden voted against the Feinstein Amendment to S 1664 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-Utah]) that would have eliminated the immigration lottery and significantly reduced chain migration. The Feinstein Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), was defeated by a vote of 74 to 26.

1989-90: Voted for bill that created the immigration lottery (Kennedy)
Sen. Biden voted for S.358 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Ted Kennedy [D-Mass.]), the bill that became the Immigration Act of 1990 and created the visa lottery. The Immigration Act of 1990 ultimately removed or increased limits in most immigration categories. S. 358 passed 81-17.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of increasing foreign worker importation.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase the importation of both temporary and permanent foreign workers. S. 1639 would increase the importation of temporary foreign workers by 340,000 year and also add 106,877 permanent workers a year for 5 years. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote for cloture was effectively a vote in favor of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of increasing foreign worker visas.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would increase importation of temporary and permanent foreign workers. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote for cloture was effectively a vote in favor of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against reducing foreign worker importation.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to increase importation of temporary and permanent foreign workers. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote in favor of cloture was effectively a vote in favor of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to sunset guestworker provisions of a bill.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment (SA 1316) to S. 1348 to sunset the guestworker provisions of the bill in five years. This was the second vote on the Dorgan Amendment which previously failed by a vote of 48 to 49. This time it passed by a vote of 49 to 48.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to protect American workers.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Durbin Amendment to S. 1348 to ensure that employers make efforts to recruit American workers before hiring foreign workers. The Durbin Amendment passed by a vote of 71 to 22.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to sunset guestworker provisions of a bill.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment to S. 1348 to sunset the guestworker provisions of the bill in five years. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 48 to 49.

2007-2008: Voted in favor of amendment to increase fees on H-1B visas.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Sanders Amendment to S. 1348 increase 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.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to reduce a proposed guestworker program in a bill.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Bingaman Amendment (SA 1169) to S. 1348. 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 74 of 24.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment to remove a proposed guestworker program in a bill.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment to S. 1348 to delete the provisions of S. 1348 that would create a new guestworker program for up to 600,000 foreign workers annually. The Dorgan Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 64.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to increase the number of H-2B workers (Mikulski).
Sen. Biden cosponsored the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2009 (S. 988). The bill would have allowed an alien to return as an H-2B nonimmigrant worker without counting against the annual 66,000 cap if they had used an H-2B visa during one of the three previous fiscal years, effectively tripling the number of H-2B workers. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) is the bills main sponsor.

2006: Voted for an amendment to cap employment-based visas.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Bingaman Amendment to S. 2611, which caps 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.

2006: Voted in favor of a bill that rewarded illegal aliens with amnesty.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of final passage of S. 2611, which includes an amnesty (both immediate and deferred) for 10.2 million illegal aliens (6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/children). S. 2611 passed by a vote of 62 to 36.

2006: Voted for increasing foreign worker visas.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, which would have limited debate on the bill to increase foreign worker importation by approximately 600,000 visas per year. A vote to invoke cloture is essentially a vote for the bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 73 to 25.

2006: Voted against an amendment that increases guestworker visas.
Sen. Biden voted against the Hutchison Amendment to S. 2611, which creates a Secure Authorized Foreign Employee (SAFE) visa for nationals of a NAFTA or CAFTA. Its effect would have been to create an unnecessary guestworker visa category. The Hutchison Amendment failed by a vote of 31 to 67.

2006: Voted for an amendment to limit a proposed guestworker program.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Dorgan Amendment to S. 2611, which limits the proposed H-2C guestworker program to five years instead of 10 years. 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.

2006: Voted to increase greencards for foreign workers.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to table the Kyl amendment (SA 3969) to S. 2611. The Kyl amendment would have prevented 200,000 guestworkers a year from adjusting to lawful permanent resident status on the basis of their status as a guestworker. This would have resulted in 2 million less greencards over a decade. The motion to table the Kyl amendment passed by a vote of 58 to 35, effectively killing the amendment.

2006: Voted for an amendment to weaken worker protections.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Kennedy amendment (SA 4066) to S. 2611. The Kennedy amendment weakens Sen. Cornyns amendment (SA 3965) by not requiring Federal certification of the employers need to import foreign workers. The Kennedy amendment passed by a vote of 56 to 43.

2006: Voted against an amendment to increase worker protections.
Sen. Biden voted against the Cornyn amendment (SA 3965) to S. 2611, which provides modest protections to American workers by requiring employers to employ aliens in the position they were hired for and requiring DHS to certify that there is, in fact, a labor shortage in that particular field before visas are made available. The Cornyn amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 48.

2006: Voted against killing an amendment that would cap guestworker visas.
Sen. Biden voted against a motion to table the Bingaman Amendment (SA 3981) to S. 2611. The Bingaman Amendment 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.

2006: Voted to kill an amendment that would strike guestworker provisions.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to table the Dorgan Amendment (SA 4017) to S. 2611. 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 Foundations Robert Rector). The motion to table passed by a voted of 68 to 29, effectively killing the Dorgan amendment.

2006: Voted in favor of procedural move to increase forweign worker importation Sen. Biden voted for cloture on SA 3424, a compromise amnesty proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-Neb.) and Martinez (R-Fla.). This was a procedural vote that was highly tied up in partisan politics. Although it is impossible to know just why one voted against cloture

2006: Voted in committee in favor of proposal to increase foreign worker visas As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Biden voted in favor of a proposal by Committee chair Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to increase foreign workers visas. The Specter proposal includes an annual increase in employment-based visas of 754,660. As well, it includes a one-time-only permanent increase of 90,000 unused employment-based visas (2001-2005). The Specter proposal also includes an annual increase in H-1B workers visas of at least 500

2006: Cosponsored a bill to increase number of low-skill workers present in the U.S. at any one time (Mikulski).
Sen. Biden was a cosponsor of S. 2844, which extends for three years an exemption for any H-2B alien (for temporary, or seasonal low-skill workers) who has been counted against the 66,000-visa cap during any of the three previous three fiscal years. S. 2284 has the potential to triple the number of H-2B workers in the United States at any given time. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2005-2006: Voted against Byrd Amendment that would prevent additional foreign-worker importation
Sen. Biden voted against the Byrd Amendment to the Budget Reconciliation bill. The Byrd Amendment would have stripped a provision to increase permanent, employement-based immigration by as many as 366,000 annually. The Byrd Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), failed by a vote of 14 to 85 on November 3, 2005 (2:16 PM).

2005-2006: Voted in committee against amendment (Sessions) to increase worker visa fees
Sen. Biden voted against the Sessions Amendment to the Specter Budget Reconciliation Plan that was attached to the Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005, S. 1932. The Sessions Amendment was a substitute amendment to increase L-1 fees by 1,500. The Sessions Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), failed by a vote of 7 to 11.

2005-2006: Voted in committee in favor of amendment (Feinstein) to cut in half proposal to import additional foreign workers in 2005
Sen. Biden 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. 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 Feinstein Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), passed by a vote of 10-5.

2005-2006: Voted in committee against amendment (Hatch) to increase overall immigration fees by 5 percent
Sen. Biden voted as part of the Judiciary Committee against the Hatch Amendment to the Specter Budget Reconciliation Plan that was attached to Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 2005. The Hatch Amendment was a substitute amendment of House bill to increase overall immigration fees by 5 percent. It would have effectively stripped the overall immigration increase from the budget reconciliation bill. The Hatch Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), failed by a vote of 5-11.

2005-2006: Voted against CAFTA, foreign worker importation program (Grassley)
Sen. Biden voted against S. 1307, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (CAFTA). It is expected that CAFTA would create the expectation of immigration and lead to an increase in illegal immigration. S. 1307, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), passed by a vote of 54 to 45 on June 30, 2005.

2003-2004: Voted against worker importation program in Singapore free trade agreement (DeLay). Sen. Biden voted against H.R. 2739, the Singapore free trade agreement, that permits an unlimited number of workers from Singapore 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 to *establish, develop, administer or provide advice or key technical services* to the operations of a business in which they have invested capital. The Singapore Free Trade Agreement, sponsored by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), passed the Senate by a vote of 66-32.

2003-2004: Voted against a bill to increase foreign-worker importation (DeLay).
Sen. Biden voted against the Chile Free Trade Agreement, H.R. 2738 that permits an unlimited number of workers in Chile to enter the U.S. on L-1 visas. H.R. 2738, sponsored by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), passed the Senate by a vote of 66-31.

2000: Voted for a foreign worker bill with no American worker protections.
Sen. Biden voted for S. 2045, which nearly tripled the number of foreign high-tech workers. Despite a GAO report finding no evidence of a worker shortage and suggesting fraud in the H-1B program, Sen. Biden voted for this bill that included no worker protections or anti-fraud measures. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), passed 96-1.

2000: Voted for a bill to grant visas to foreign workers.
Sen. Biden voted as part of the Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of S.2045 (the Abraham bill). This legislation would nearly triple the number of H-1B visas annually and grant virtual permanent residency to H-1B visas holders and their families. S.2045, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), passed the Senate Judiciary Committee 16-2.

1998: Voted against a bill that doubled H-1B foreign high-tech workers.
S.1723 increased by nearly 150,000 the number of foreign workers that high-tech American companies could hire over the next three years. Mister President Biden argued the increase was not necessary, as seen by the fact that American workers were bing laid off. S.1723, sponsored by Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), passed the Senate 78-20.

1998: Voted for an amendment to forbid firing an American worker to hire an foreign worker.
Sen. Biden voted for the Kennedy Amendment (A-2418) to S.1723 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) that would have protected American workers from being fired and replaced by a foreign worker (H-1B visa holder). The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), was defeated 38-60.

1998: Voted for an amendment to require offering jobs to Americans first.
Mister President Biden voted for the Kennedy amendment (A-2417) to S.1723 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) that would have required U.S. firms applying for H-1B visas to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), failed 39-59.

1998: Voted for an amendment to reduce worker importation programs.
Sen. Biden, with 9 other Senators, voted for the Feinstein amendment to reduce the length of the H1B program from 5 years to 3, arguing that this program should be a short-term solution to the current worker shortage in the high-tech industry. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), was defeated by a two-vote margin.

1998: Voted against a bill in an effort to protect American workers.
Sen. Biden on the losing side of the Senate Judiciary Committee 12-6 vote to send S.1723 to the floor of the Senate without safeguards for American workers. The primary sponsor of this bill was Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.).

1998: Voted for the Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment to protect American workers.
The Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment to S.1723 would have accomplished two important goals, preventing lay-offs of American workers prior to hiring an H1B employee and requiring that employers demonstrate they had taken timely and effective steps to hire a qualified American. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) , failed 8-10.

1989-1990: Voted in favor of bill that increased immigration limits (Kennedy)
Sen. Biden voted for S.358 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Ted Kennedy [D-Mass.]), a bill that ultimately removed or increased limits in most immigration categories. Mister President Biden voted to import more foreign workers by voting for this bill. S.358 passed 81-17, ultimately becoming the Immigration Act of 1990.

1990: Voted for bill that increased annual number of asylum seekers granted residence (Kennedy)
Sen. Biden voted for S. 358 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Ted Kennedy [D-Mass.]), which doubled the number of asylum seekers who could be granted permanent residence each year, thus increasing the incentive to file fraudulent asylum applications. Ultimately, the 1990 bill passed 81-17.

2007-2008: Voted in favor of the DREAM Act amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2205, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2007. S. 2205 would reward up to 2.1 million illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 52 to 44.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of rewarding illegal aliens with amnesty.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a second motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would reward up to six million illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture would have limited further debate on the bill and moved it to a final vote. A vote for cloture was effectively a vote in favor of passing the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 46 to 53.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 1639, which would reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture was a move to initiate debate on the proposal and limit further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote for cloture was effectively a vote in favor of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 64 to 35.

2007-2008: Voted on Senate floor against reducing amnesties for illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment (SA 1150) to S. 1348, a bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The motion to invoke cloture would have ended debate on the proposal and limited further discussion of amendments to a previously-agreed upon set of proposals -- thus a vote in favor of cloture was effectively a vote in favor of the amnesty-guestworker bill. The motion to invoke cloture failed by a vote of 45 to 50.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to bar certain criminals from amnesty.
Sen. Biden voted against the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1184) to S. 1385 to bar criminal aliens from receiving amnesty. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has estimated that 15% of illegal aliens are criminals. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 46 to 51.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to strip amnesty provisions from a bill.
Sen. Biden voted against the Vitter Amendment to strip the amnesty provisions from S. 1348. The Vitter Amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 66..

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Durbin).
S. 774 would reward 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 with amnesty. An estimated 500,000 to 600,000 illegal aliens would qualify for this amnesty. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) is the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Cosponsored AgJOBS to reward illegal agricultural workers with amnesty (Feinstein).
Sen. Biden is a cosponsor of S. 340 to reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to create a disincentive to apply for amnesty.
Sen. Biden voted against the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1250) to S. 1348 to discourage applicants from applying for amnesty by eliminating the 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 passed by a vote of 57 to 39.

2006: Voted on Senate floor in favor of S. 2611 to reward illegal aliens with amnesty Sen. Biden voted in favor of final passage of S. 2611 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) which includes an amnesty (both immediate and deferred) for 10.2 million illegal aliens (6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/children). S. 2611 passed by a vote of 62 to 36 on May 25, 2006 (5:39 PM).

2006: Voted for amnesty for illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to invoke cloture on S. 2611, which includes an amnesty (both immediate and deferred) for 10.2 million illegal aliens (6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/children). A vote to invoke cloture is essentially a vote for the bill. The motion to invoke cloture passed by a vote of 73 to 25.

2006: Voted in favor of amendment to reward 2 million illegal aliens with amnesty Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Feinstein Amendment to S. 2611 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Arlen Specter [D-Pa.]) to create an orange card that would allow an estimated two million illegal aliens to pay a fine. The amendment failed by a vote of 37 to 61.

2006: Voted against an amendment to end amnesty provisions.
Sen. Biden voted against the Vitter amendment (SA 3963) to S. 2611, which removes 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 Foundations Robert Rector). The Vitter amendment failed by a vote of 33 to 66.

2006: Voted against an amendment that postpones amnesty.
Sen. Biden voted against the Cornyn amendment to S. 2611 to prohibit DHS from implementing the amnesty provisions of S. 2611 unless the agency has certified that this bills border security measures are fully operational. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 40-55.

2006: Voted in favor of procedural move to amnesty illegal aliens Sen. Biden voted for cloture on SA 3424, a compromise amnesty proposal by Sens. Hagel (R-Neb.) and Martinez (R-Fla.). This was a procedural vote that was highly tied up in partisan politics. Although it is impossible to know just why one voted against cloture

2006: Voted in committee for a proposal to reward illegal aliens with amnesty.
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Biden voted in favor of a proposal by Committee chair Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to reward illegal aliens with amnesty. The Specter proposal includes an amnesty (both immediate and deferred) for 10.2 million illegal aliens (6.7 million illegal alien workers and 3.5 million illegal alien spouses and/children). The Judiciary Committee passed the Specter proposal by a vote of 12 to 6.

2005-2006: Cosponsored a bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Durbin).
S. 2075 would reward 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, with amnesty. An estimated 500,000 to 600,000 illegal aliens would qualify for this amnesty. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) was the main sponsor of this bill. The bill died in the Judiciary Committee.

2005-2006: Voted in favor of amnesty for agricultural workers
Sen. Biden voted to invoke cloture, a procedural move requiring 60 votes to limit debate and ensure a vote on the AgJOBS amnesty amendment for up to 3 million illegal aliens, introduced by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), to the Iraq supplemental spending bill. The Senate voted 53 to 45 not to invoke cloture, effectively keeping the amnesty off of the final bill on April 19, 2005.

2005-2006: Cosponsored AgJobs to grant amnesty to illegal aliens (Craig)
Sen. Biden was a cosponsor of S. 359 to encourage more illegal immigration by rewarding certain illegal aliens who work in agriculture with amnesty. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Voted for DREAM Act, to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Hatch).
Sen. Biden voted as part of the Judiciary Committee for S. 1545 to reward certain college-age illegal aliens with amnesty. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to grant amnesty to illegal aliens (Craig).
Sen. Biden cosponsored S. 1645 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Larry Craig [R-Idaho]) to encourage more illegal immigration by rewarding certain illegal aliens who work in agriculture with amnesty. This bill died in the Judiciary Committee.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to reward illegal aliens with amnesty (Daschle).
S. 8 would have rewarded illegal aliens with amnesty by granting in-state tuition and amnesty to certain college-age illegal aliens. Sen. Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) was the primary sponsor.

2000: Voted for including illegal immigration amnesty in the Senate H-1b bill (Hatch).
Sen. Biden voted to include an amnesty for illegal aliens from Central America in the Senate H-1B bill (S.2045). This was a vote in favor of rewarding law-breakers with legal status. The move to attach the amnesty failed 43-55.

1990: Voted for a bill that provided family-based amnesty (Kennedy)
Sen. Biden supported S.358 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Ted Kennedy [D-Mass]), which provided an amnesty for up to 165,000 spouses and minor children of illegal aliens who were granted amnesty in 1986. Ultimately, the 1990 bill passed 81-17.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to eliminate rewards for illegal immigration.
Sen. Biden voted against the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to prohibit in-state tuition for illegal aliens and sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2007-2008: Cosponsored a bill to reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition (Durbin).
S. 774 would reward 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 with in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2007-2008: Cosponsored AgJOBS to reward illegal agricultural workers with amnesty (Feinstein).
Sen. Biden is a cosponsor of S. 340 to reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) was the main sponsor of this bill.

2006: Voted to kill an amendment to prevent Social Security for illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of a motion to table the Ensign amendment (SA 3985) to S. 2611. The Ensign amendment would have prohibited the payment of Social Security benefits for many illegal aliens. The motion to table the Ensign amendment passed by a vote of 50 to 49, effectively killing the amendment.

2005-2006: Cosponsored a bill to reward illegal aliens with in-state tuition (Durbin).
S. 2075 would have rewarded 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, with in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities. Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) was the main sponsor of the bill. The bill died in the Judiciary Committee.

2005-2006: Voted to shield illegal aliens from prosecution for Social Security fraud
Sen. Biden voted to invoke cloture, a procedural move requiring 60 votes to limit debate and ensure a vote on the AgJOBS amnesty amendment, introduced by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), to the Iraq supplemental spending bill. The Senate voted 53 to 45 not to invoke cloture, thus effectively keeping the amnesty, which would reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud off the final bill on April 19, 2005.

2005-2006: Cosponsored AgJobs to protect illegal aliens from prosecution (Craig)
Sen. Biden was a cosponsor of S. 359 to reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Voted for DREAM Act, to reward illegal aliens with in-state tution and amnesty (Hatch).
Sen. Biden voted as part of the Judiciary Committee for S. 1545 to encourage illegal immigration by granting in-state tuition rates to certain college-age illegal aliens. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) was the primary sponsor.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to protect illegal immigrants from prosecution (Craig).
Sen. Biden cosponsored S. 1645 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Larry Craig [R-Idaho]) to reward illegal immigration by protecting illegal aliens granted temporary resident status from prosecution for Social Security fraud. This bill died in the Judiciary Committee.

2003-2004: Cosponsored bill to reward illegal immigrants with in-state tuition (Daschle).
S. 8 would have created an incentive for illegal immigration by granting in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities to certain illegal aliens. Sen. Thomas Daschle (D-S.D.) was the primary sponsor.

1996: Voted in favor of bill that denied illegal aliens in-state tuition (Hatch)
Sen. Biden voted in favor of S. 1664 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-Utah]) that denied illegal aliens in-state tuition, in addition to almost all forms of federal welfare.

2008: Voted against an amendment to increase border security funding and enforcement.
Sen. Biden voted against 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.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to increase border control.
Sen. Biden voted against the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to increase border control by requiring construction of the border fence, implementation of US VISIT (entry-exit system), and biometric identification documents. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2006: Voted for a bill to create a border fence.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of H.R. 6061 to create a 700-mile reinforced fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and to provide for other barriers for border control. H.R. 6061 passed by a vote of 80-19.

2006: Voted for an amendment to fund a border fence.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Sessions amendment to H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The Sessions amendment would provide for $1.8 billion for the construction of 370 miles of border fencing and 461 miles of vehicle barriers along the southern border. The Sessions amendment passed by a vote of 94-3.

2006: Voted against an amendment to extend the border fence.
Sen. Biden voted against the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5441, the Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The Sessions Amendment would have added 370 miles of fence on the southwest border. The amendment failed by a vote of 29 to 71.

2006: Voted in favor of an amendment to create a border fence.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Sessions amendment (SA 3979) to S. 2611, which calls for the construction of at least 370 miles of a border fence along the southwest border. The Sessions amendment passed by a vote of 83 to 16.

2005-2006: Voted against amendment (Ensign)to DHS appropriations bill to fund U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Sen. Biden voted against the Ensign Amendment (SA 1219) to H.R. 2360 (Rogers), 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, sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), failed by a vote of 38 to 60 on July 14, 2005 (10:04 AM).

2005-2006: Voted in favor of Byrd Amendment to fund additional Border Patrol agents
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Byrd Amendment to H.R. 1268 (an emergency supplemental spending bill) to provide funding to hire 650 more border patrol agents. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), passed 65-34 on April 20, 2005 (3:18 PM).

2002: Voted for a bill to increase border control with an alien tracking and identification system.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 that would increase border control efforts by creating an entry-exit system for checking each alien as they enter and leave the U.S. H.R. 3525, sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), passed the Senate unanimously by a vote of 97-0.

1996: Voted in favor of bill to reduce illegal immigration with border control, such as increased Border Patrol forces (Hatch)
Sen. Biden voted in favor of S. 1664 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-Utah]), a large omnibus bill with dozens of provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration. It included major increases in Border Patrol forces. As well, it barred from any kind of legal entry for 10 years any illegal alien who had been apprehended and deported. S. 1644 passed by a vote of 97-3.

2008: Voted in favor of sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of tabling the Vitter Amendment 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 would have created a reserve fund to ensure that Federal assistance does not go to sanctuary cities which ignore the immigration laws of the United States and create safe havens for illegal aliens and potential terrorists. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 58 to 40, effectively killing the amendment.

2008: Voted against an amendment to increase border security funding and enforcement.
Sen. Biden voted against 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.

2007-2008: Voted in favor of sanctuary policies for illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of tabling the Vitter Amendment to H.R. 3093, the Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) spending bill. The Vitter Amendment would have denied Federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funding to state and local governments who refuse to share information with Federal immigration authorities. The vote to table the Vitter Amendment passed 52 to 42, effectively killing the amendment.

2007-2008: Voted against an amendment to increase interior enforcement.
Sen. Biden voted against the Coburn Amendment (SA 1311) to S. 1348 to increase interior enforcement by requiring implementation of US VISIT (entry-exit system) and biometric identification documents. The Coburn Amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 54.

2007-2008: Voted for an amendment that deters employers from hiring illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. The Sessions Amendment would prohibit employers who hire illegal aliens from receiving government contracts. The Sessions Amendment passed by a vote of 94-0.

2006: Voted against an amendment to fund immigration investigators.
Sen. Biden voted against the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 5411, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill for 2007. The Sessions Amendment would have added $86 million for 800 additional staff to investigate immigration law violations. The amendment failed by a vote of 34 to 66.

2005-2006: Voted against an amendment to add detention beds to increase interior enforcement.
Sen. Biden voted against the McCain amendment to H.R. 2360, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The McCain amendment would have increased the number of detention beds to those called for in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The McCain amendment failed by a vote of 42 to 56.

2005-2006: Voted in favor of Byrd Amendment to fund additional immigration investigators and agents
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Byrd Amendment to H.R. 1268 (an emergency supplemental spending bill) to provide funding to hire 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. The amendment, sponsored by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), passed 65-34 on April 20, 2005 (3:18 PM).

2002: Voted for a bill to create a comprehensive alien tracking and identification system.
Sen. Biden voted in favor of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001 to significantly reduce future population growth from illegal immigration by making it much harder for temporary visa holders to stay in the country illegally after their visas expire. H.R. 3525 includes an entry-exit system and an integraded data system with biometric identifiers. H.R. 3525, sponsored by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), passed the Senate unanimously by a vote of 97-0.

1996: Voted against the Abraham Amendment which would get rid of a voluntary workplace verification program
Sen. Biden voted against the Abraham Amendment to strip the voluntary workplace verification program from S. 1644 (Hatch). Workplace verification programs help reduce illegal immigration by withdrawing the job magnet from illegal aliens. The Abraham Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), failed by a vote of 54-46.

1996: Voted in favor of bill to reduce illegal immigration using interior enforcement, such as restrictions on sanctuary policy (Hatch)
Sen. Biden voted in favor of S. 1644 (whose main sponsor was Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-Utah]) a bill with dozens of provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration. It included interior enforcement provisions such as restrictions against sanctuary policies for illegal aliens and employer sanction provisions. S. 1644 passed by a vote of 97-3.

1996: Voted in committee against the Hatch Amendment, which reduced fines against employers who hired illegal aliens.
Sen. Biden voted as part of the Senate Judiciary Committee against the Hatch Amendment to S. 1664 (Hatch). The Hatch Amendment stripped the provision from S. 1664 that increased fines against businesses that hire illegal aliens, thus making it less attractive for businesses to hire illegal aliens. The Hatch Amendment, sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), passed by a vote of 9-8.