Discussion On The Politics of Immigration Reform (Comprehensive Or Otherwise)

[Pedro Gonzales]

It looks like immigration reform (comprehensive or otherwise) will become a big item of debate in the coming days. I think it's time we start looking out for information on two issues. a) Is elimination of country quota on the agenda, b) What is the likely timing?

I haven't heard anything on 'a', but given overwhelming House support the last time around I expect that it will be a part of the agenda (along with some kind of a STEM quota), and on 'b', I'm not going to add any sources yet, but I've read/heard/seen from multiple reports its something that will get in front of Congress as early as March for a potential August signing by the President. The key hurdle seems to have been overcome with important members of the GOP now reconciled to a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

[pakkpk]

Senator Rubio and Senator Hatch are going to propose a bill for high skilled immigrants to remove per country limits, visa recapture, not counting dependents in visa etc. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) will introduce Start-up Act. Some other will introduce STEM. All will happen before the CIR is introduced. (Before March 2013) But I am very doubtful how far all these bills will go. With both parties are talking about CIR, it is very unlikely to get the piecemeal bill passed. Ideally, Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Grassley introduce the bill to remove per country limits with H1B labor audits (H.R.3012 compromised version). But Senator Schumer will not work on any bill without CIR. CIR has very bleak chance to pass the house.

[abcx13]

Senator Rubio and Senator Hatch are going to propose a bill for high skilled immigrants to remove per country limits, visa recapture, not counting dependents in visa etc. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) will introduce Start-up Act. Some other will introduce STEM. All will happen before the CIR is introduced. (Before March 2013) But I am very doubtful how far all these bills will go. With both parties are talking about CIR, it is very unlikely to get the piecemeal bill passed. Ideally, Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Grassley introduce the bill to remove per country limits with H1B labor audits (H.R.3012 compromised version). But Senator Schumer will not work on any bill without CIR. CIR has very bleak chance to pass the house.

Not sure whether this is fact or opinion. I don't know why anyone would introduce piecemeal legislation now when it's clear the President isn't going to sign it. And I would think the Republicans in the House have realized after this election that they can't keep alienating the Hispanics with their stupid immigration agenda...

[Jonty Rhodes]

Not sure whether this is fact or opinion. I don't know why anyone would introduce piecemeal legislation now when it's clear the President isn't going to sign it. And I would think the Republicans in the House have realized after this election that they can't keep alienating the Hispanics with their stupid immigration agenda...

I agree. Democrats won't go for piecemeal legislation on Immigration. The only option is CIR. I hope that Republicans stop introducing smaller immigration bills when it has been made amply clear that CIR is the only way to take Democrats on board as well. I have been keeping an eye on this and it seems that if everything goes smooth, than the CIR will pass in Early Fall this year.

[Still_Waiting]

I'm another long time reader of this blog and really appreciate all the contributions from everyone here.
Came across this interesting article about CIR on Bloomberg yesterday.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles...augural-speech

If anything, we're the pawns (Obama's bargaining chip) in the upcoming debate about immigration!

[just_curious]

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquer...:+@eq+20130122

Item : 34

[girish989]

... no usual suspects from republican party ...

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquer...:+@eq+20130122

Item : 34

[rupen86]

Good to see this post being started..I was thinking of starting one myself.
From Oh Law firm today,

http://www.nationaljournal.com/thene...-bill-20130121

[seahawks2012]

My 2c:

I hope at least some of the provisions include:
1) H1-B Visa Stamping within United States
2) Allow counting EB wait time towards US Citizenship (instead of waiting another 5 years after waiting forever in the EB queue)

[gs1968]

Saw this on The Hill this evening.Again a lot of noise and may be difficult to get through the House even if it passes the Senate by a miracle

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-va...migration-bill

[Jonty Rhodes]

Saw this on The Hill this evening.Again a lot of noise and may be difficult to get through the House even if it passes the Senate by a miracle

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-va...migration-bill

This is just an exercise in futility. I agree that even if it passes the Senate by miracle, it will die in House. Further, I don't see any point in raising the number of H1B visas only if Congress is not going to raise the number of Green Cards given each yer in EB system.

[gcq]

Looks like this latest bill from Marco Rubio is the one that will be part of CIR 2013. CIR is gaining steam after the elections.

[rupen86]

Saw this on The Hill this evening.Again a lot of noise and may be difficult to get through the House even if it passes the Senate by a miracle

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-va...migration-bill

It addresses some points what people on this forum care about like eliminating per country caps, not counting dependents and STEM. I do not see recapturing as the point here. Though, it could be there in the bill text. Increasing number of h1s without increasing number of green cards is going to worsen the existing backlog situation. I do not feel this bill has chance of passing since white house and democrats want CIR and not piecemeal approach but provisions here can be added to CIR S1 introduced in the senate. Regardless, it is nice to see that there are some people out there who care about EB immigration and not just undocumented people.

[bvsamrat]

One thing does not make sense! on one hand tech industry saying that it is finding difficult to fill positions. On the other hand they want more H1B visas.

If the cap is getting filled up before time- it is makes sense for policy makers suggestions to increase the cap numbers.

It addresses some points what people on this forum care about like eliminating per country caps, not counting dependents and STEM. I do not see recapturing as the point here. Though, it could be there in the bill text. Increasing number of h1s without increasing number of green cards is going to worsen the existing backlog situation. I do not feel this bill has chance of passing since white house and democrats want CIR and not piecemeal approach but provisions here can be added to CIR S1 introduced in the senate. Regardless, it is nice to see that there are some people out there who care about EB immigration and not just undocumented people.

[bvsamrat]

For us it is rather warm today 10 deg F compared to deep freeze of -10deg F yesterday and day before.
Strict control on H1B would reduce the demand and then stabilise the quota numbers.
Also H1B main purpose is to meet skill shortage and not direct source to GC as it has dual intent - IMHO

/Sorry for my morning rant. Just having a bad day due to terrible cold out.[/QUOTE]

[rupen86]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politi...d5b_story.html

Seems there is a broad agreement and details could come by end of next week. Main contrasting points I see are
1) Comprehensive (WH and Democrats) vs piecemeal (Republicans)
2) illegals to get in existing line (Republicans) vs New Line (Democrats)

[qesehmk]

bvsamrat - I was in midtown NY today and the water fountain in bryant park is frozen !! One of my friends quipped - it looked like Amarnathji in Himalaya!

For us it is rather warm today 10 deg F compared to deep freeze of -10deg F yesterday and day before.
Strict control on H1B would reduce the demand and then stabilise the quota numbers.
Also H1B main purpose is to meet skill shortage and not direct source to GC as it has dual intent - IMHO

/Sorry for my morning rant. Just having a bad day due to terrible cold out.

[/QUOTE]

[bvsamrat]

Please also see the other side of the picture. H1B is also applicable to Non IT people, who are really getting affected by all of this.
I know quite a few from Europe and other countries who would like to work for while in USA on H1B for getting good exposure and spreading their experience (not for GC) - like an Indian working in Dubai only for a time but not to settle).But local companies are scared of the waiting rules
as they are caught up in this supply/demand/caps and not able to start till october etc.
----------------

Agree to your point in theory, but we are talking in practical terms.

[seahawks2012]

Saw this on The Hill this evening.Again a lot of noise and may be difficult to get through the House even if it passes the Senate by a miracle

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-va...migration-bill

Shouldn't it be renamed to "...non-immigration bill.."? All the article is talking about is H1-Bs. Basically, creating more alien legal workforce who are only allowed in with extremely limited path to citizenship.

If they really want to introduce something related to H1-B, then they should ideally introduce a new "consultant companies' temporary visa category" that would stop the abuse of H1-B visas.

[bvsamrat]

We are arguing about the same but through different route. What is required is strict H1B controls and hence stop abuse. No doubt, this would be the part of CIR. Frankly bench is not concept in H1B. If one does not work, he is out of status. No grace time. Period. H1B is for a skilled labor to work here and not sit on benches.

I don't deny this, but this is the tail of the distribution. The bulk of the distribution of the H1B is a feeder for the GC queue tomorrow whether we like it or not. The primary issue is more in-line availability of the GC.

Also, the primary problem with the H1B is its blatant misuse. I still know many people from direct acquaintances where getting benched and working in locations such as LA/NYC while getting the labor from the midwest is very common. In fact during my recent job search, I was flabbergasted to find the kind of jobs that were shipped to vendors and sub-vendors (seriously, what is a "sub-vendor"!). The mushrooming vendors create an extracting and nonproductive tier who use their size and resources to easily circumvent the H1B regulations. And I won't lie - *ALL* of them are desis. No exception.

This bill is simply adding fuel to the fire instead of putting it off with water. Stop the H1B misuse, so small local companies can easily use it when needed, which was the original intention. I was really hoping that a bill like HR 3012 would stop us making the slaves of these vendors and consultants and bring the abuse directly on everyone's radar. When the Koreans and the Europeans start feeling the pain from these abusive vendors, I am sure they will be stopped. I continue to maintain that we need GCs. As many as we can get. With a GC, you can negotiate your own terms, and if more of us have GCs, that changes the whole labor market.

[rupen86]

seems, there is action in the house as well.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/27...-this-congress

[rupen86]

deal to be announced today. It is just going to be outline and not detailed. Did not see much on legal immigration except so called STEM visas.

http://world.time.com/2013/01/28/sen...ation-changes/

[pakkpk]

Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform by Senators Schumer, McCain, Durbin, Graham, Menendez, Rubio, Bennet, and Flake
http://s3.documentcloud.org/document...ion-reform.pdf
I like following framework:
Individuals who are present without lawful status - not including people within the two categories identified below - will only receive a green card after every individual who is already waiting in line for a green card, at the time this legislation is enacted, has received their green card. Our purpose is to ensure that no one who has violated America’s immigration laws will receive preferential treatment as they relate to those individuals who have complied with the law.

II. Improving our Legal Immigration System and Attracting the World’s Best and Brightest (All three subsections will cover EB community interests)

[qbloguser]

Immigration reform discussions are going to start in D.C. Any idea when will we see its effect (if any?) on visa bulletin? If sources of my conspiracy theory are correct :-), in 2007 dates became current because there was bill in congress for solving immigration issue.

[rupen86]

Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform by Senators Schumer, McCain, Durbin, Graham, Menendez, Rubio, Bennet, and Flake
http://s3.documentcloud.org/document...ion-reform.pdf
I like following framework:
Individuals who are present without lawful status - not including people within the two categories identified below - will only receive a green card after every individual who is already waiting in line for a green card, at the time this legislation is enacted, has received their green card. Our purpose is to ensure that no one who has violated America’s immigration laws will receive preferential treatment as they relate to those individuals who have complied with the law.

II. Improving our Legal Immigration System and Attracting the World’s Best and Brightest (All three subsections will cover EB community interests)

Good find. The outline seems to be on the expected line though much work is left for future negotiations. They will have to do serious work in reforming current immigration system especially EB immigration where backlog stretches already to a decade. If they are going to add millions in existing line, without extraordinary reforms in the current system, people can not get green card in their lifetime.