SENATE DIPS TOE IN THE WATER TO MOVE IMMIGRATION MEASURES

Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee marked up a war spending bill and included a number of immigration provisions. The measures included

- a lighter version of AgJobs
- the restoration of the H-2B returning worker provision
- the recapture of unused employment green card numbers
- an early adjustment provision allowing people to file adjustment cases before employment green card numbers are available
- extension of the EB-5 investor visa program
- a new grant program relating to border security

Unfortunately, these provisions are likely to be removed because of Senate rules requiring amendments be germane to the underlying appropriations bill. If there is broad support for a provision, it might survive, but given the politics of immigration, I would not be too optimistic.

Comments

[Mary]

This plan is like the 1986 legalization, only on steroids. The US public was told that would be the one and only legalization, because of the enforcement that would take place. The enforcement never materialized, and the fact that there are now at least 4 times as many illegal aliens as back then makes us even less inclined to go along with second legalization now. We don't trust the government at all with respect to enforcement. That is why all of these bills fail.

[limbo]

Thanks matts. If I ever think about wanting to see the door slammed now that I am as good as in, I just remind myself that there is more than enough opportunity in this great country for all of us. EB immigration is such an amazing driving force for our economy here in the United States. The other EB immigrants I have had contact with are highly skilled, ambitious people. If anything, Americans should feel guilty about taking the best and brightest from other countries, not worry about the negative effects here in the states.

[matts]

"I promised myself, however, not to be happy to see the door slammed behind me like many other immigrants sadly have been."

Limbo, I appreciate your concern for fellow immigrants in the line. I have talked to lot of other people who came on Schedule A & they do not share your same sentiment, which I find is reprehensible. I sincerely hope that HR5924 would see the light of day at the earliest.

[limbo]

"Yeah Right! Doesn't HR5924 take the wasted visa numbers from EB and allocate them to Nurses/PT's? at least the RN bills in the past has done so. Why would EB folks be running for RN folks? Common Sense. RN folks need to get their own quota."

A far as I know, HR5924 would not use recaptured visa numbers unlike previous Schedule A bills. It would take nurses and PT's out of EB3, so would be a benefit to others in EB3. Schedule A relief is going to come sooner or later regardless of what I.V. does, so they might as well get on board. The shortage of nurses and P.T.s is not going to disappear without some political action. HR5924 would pump tens of millions into nursing schools in the U.S., so may help to eliminate the shortage in the long run, if it passes.

I am a nurse who is very close to getting my green card after many long, miserable years of working my way through the system, so it's no skin off my nose personally one way or the other. I promised myself, however, not to be happy to see the door slammed behind me like many other immigrants sadly have been.

[AD]

Yeah Right! Doesn't HR5924 take the wasted visa numbers from EB and allocate them to Nurses/PT's? at least the RN bills in the past has done so. Why would EB folks be running for RN folks? Common Sense. RN folks need to get their own quota.

[limbo]

The other problem for nurses that want to immigrate is that they must almost always use consular processing since they don't qualify for H1's even though all foreign nurses need to have BSN degrees from their home countries. This means that they are stuck outside the country for many years until they get green cards. That makes it kind of hard to advocate for immigration relief here in the U.S.

[matts]

Limbo, I agree with your point actually HR 5924 was attached to the Senate Appropriations Bill yesterday, but I guess it would have really helped if it was included with the other bills IV is pushing.

Sid, are you in IT or a STEM??

[limbo]

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I think EB2/3 India China don't deserve relief because they obviously do. It would have been a good idea however to include HR 5924 just as a P.R. move to broaden I.V's base of support.If you are trying to convince the CHC to look at the big picture, maybe I.V. should set an example by doing so also.

[Sid]

"Why are they ignoring HR 5924? As far as I know, that was attached also, and IV is being silent about that. This will just make it look that they are a one trick pony and only really care about EB2 and EB3 India."

How strong is the presence of nurses or ROW on IV? If most contributing members of IV are EB2/EB3 India/China, common sense dictates that their provisions will assume more importance. If instead of STEM folks, IV were composed mostly of RNs, I'm sure that IV would have used more of it's resources towards lobbying for them. Of course IV is a selfish organization. Anyone who wants to leave their country of birth and settle in the US is a selfish person. What's so shocking about that?

If you feel that IV should focus more on bills for RNs, join IV, create a critical mass of members who share your goals and start raising funds for lobbying efforts. What's stopping you? IV is just an umbrella for people affected by EB immigration backlogs.

If you think that IT/STEM folks will care more about issues affecting RNs, then you are deluded. No one is here for charity but comparing non-action to deliberately derailing provisions for other groups is an unfair accusation.

These are my personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by other IV members.

[Catherine M. Kiely]

Anything moving on the H1-B issue???

[limbo]

"What the hell are you talking about? Are you claiming that IV is sabotaging bills for nurses?"

Why are they ignoring HR 5924? As far as I know, that was attached also, and IV is being silent about that. This will just make it look that they are a one trick pony and only really care about EB2 and EB3 India.

[matts]

"What provisions in HR 5924?"

Its a nursing relief bill which would help put Schedule A visa (RN, PT) back on track benefitting RNs & PTs.

[Sid]

"Because IV is doing the same thing the CHC is doing. Only being concerned with their own selfish agenda."

What the hell are you talking about? Are you claiming that IV is sabotaging bills for nurses?

[NewBee]

What provisions in HR 5924?

[limbo]

"Just a question why was HR 5924 excluded"

Because IV is doing the same thing the CHC is doing. Only being concerned with their own selfish agenda.

"Please spread the word!!

http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19113"

Good move to call the CHC by IV. Just a question why was HR 5924 excluded?

[beppenyc]

no hope for the extension of the 245(i) deadline????

[silversurfer6969]

Please spread the word!!

http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19113

[George Chell]

Wait till next year.