Immigration Reform 2013 News: Immigration Bill Features Student Visa Check Measure Inspired by Boston Bombings

Nearly a month after twin explosions at the Boston Marathon killed three and wounded nearly 200, a new amendment inspired by the bombings calling for stronger checks on foreigners in the U.S. on student visas could be a part of the proposed immigration reform bill in Washington.

The Senate Judiciary Committee this week moved forward with an amendment, which passed out of committee unanimously on Tuesday, which would focus stronger monitoring on foreign students in the U.S. on visas.

As CBS News reported, the measure would require the Department of Homeland Security to call into action what were deemed as "real time transmission" of student visa information to databases around the country that can be accessed by federal customs and border patrol agents.

A Judiciary Committee spokeswoman said the legislation was inspired by Azamat Tazhayakov, a student charted as an accomplice in the bombings. Tazhayakov--who was academically dismissed from the University of Massacusetts Dartmouth--had a nullified visa when he arrived in New York in January, USA Today reported. However, the border agent in the airport could not access that information in the Homeland Security Department's Student and Exchange Visitor Information System.

Tazhayakov, a Kazakhstan student, was arrested last month on federal obstruction of justice charges after being accused of helping to get rid of a backpack containing fireworks that was connected to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the two suspected bombers.

Under the regulations at the time, border agents can only access the information system when the person was referred to a second officer for additional inspection or questioning.

While Homeland Security has ordered border agents to check student visa statuses at ports of entry earlier this month, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has proposed the amendment to the bill. Sen. Grassley suggested last month after the Boston marathon tragedy that that the bombings should cause the legislation to be partially reconsidered because "it's important for us to understand the gaps and loopholes in our immigration system."

"While we don't yet know the immigration status of the people who have terrorized the communities in Massachusetts, when we find out, it will help shed light on the weaknesses of our system," he said in April during an immigration hearing.