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

[Turbulent_Dragonfly]

My smart money would be on tacking this on to the Omnibus appropriations Bill this month.It is a must pass Bill that will have to be agreed to in both Chambers. The current CR expires on December 11 and ideally the next appropriations Bill has to be passed before it expires.As it stands there is no agreement yet. I anticipate that if the situation stays the same then a short term CR would be passed for a 10-14 day period to give the negotiators more time. Lofgren has championed this since 2007 and knows that she may never get another chance although what has come back to her is vastly different from her vision of the solution. The Bill itself is so messily drafted that after this passes there are bound to be technical correction Bills needing to be passed to clear confusion during rule making and implementation

Yeah I agree. Once the new admin comes in, all they will keep chasing is DACA and the border issues unless they manage to take control of the Senate.

[smuggymba]

I doubt how big of a role "SOME" people had in it. For the simple reason that they can't figure out what exactly was passed in the senate. Regardless, congratulations to those that contributed to advocacy. As somebody said above, this may not mean much for people with dates in 2010/12 but it will mean a lot for people with dates in 2015 and beyond.

Q, no need to hate on IV at every given chance. Doesn't matter what their role is/was....it's a good day for us backlogged workers and it's a positive development. No need to be a hater and bring negativity in everything. Just my thought.

[qesehmk]

But the fact remains that for somebody from any country that gets in line today there will be a 15 year wait to a GC.

Thanks gs. The fight for country caps has been difficult because all sides understand this is the lynchpin for eventual lifiting up of overall EB immigration limit.

Once we have generalized the pain then all those nationalities will rise up and demand increasing the limits. My sense is it will happen much sooner than all of us can imagine today.

[qesehmk]

Q, no need to hate on IV at every given chance. Doesn't matter what their role is/was....it's a good day for us backlogged workers and it's a positive development. No need to be a hater and bring negativity in everything. Just my thought.

It's a great day and I will concede to your point.

[newyorker123]

I have a 2013 Priority date, but just joined a company (so don't have PERM started).
If this bill gets approved, will I be able to file I485 only on Oct 1 2022 ? Guessing the filing date might cross 2013 by that time.
This bill would definitely be very beneficial for relative newcomers to US.

[gs1968]

An Update

"Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) indicated Wednesday that a “stopgap” continuing resolution looks likely given how much work still remains on an omnibus bill.If no comprehensive budget bill can be passed in time, lawmakers can pass a short-term continuing resolution that would extend government funding at current levels for a few months."
This means that the Bill may have to go it alone.McConnell has had reservations in the past about adding immigration provisions to the COVID stimulus Bills which again are in limbo.

[vedu]

IV or no IV, whoever contributed to the advocacy efforts in whatever way they can deserve a credit today. Whatever small role they played in this, they made a difference! The bill may or may not pass this time around, but as Q said, it is a big deal that the entire senate passed it for the very first time. As long as there are good people fighting for this just cause, the day is not far that the unfair country caps in the employment based category will be taken away! On this joyous day, I remember Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech and hope that our US Citizen children will live in a society based on meritocracy and equality, and not based on the country of origin.

[AceMan]

If this bill gets approved, will I be able to file I485 only on Oct 1 2022 ? Guessing the filing date might cross 2013 by that time.
This bill would definitely be very beneficial for relative newcomers to US.

This is basically it. We are unhappy the new comers will face less misery than us.
We don’t care the country cap is unfair, we are upset a 2020 filer can adjust the status in 2 years if the bill passed.

[AceMan]

hope that our US Citizen children will live in a society based on meritocracy and equality, and not based on the country of origin.

It is thought provoking to expect a society which calls a specific category of people African American when almost all of them has got nothing to do Africa for generations.

[newyorker123]

This is basically it. We are unhappy the new comers will face less misery than us.
We don’t care the country cap is unfair, we are upset a 2020 filer can adjust the status in 2 years if the bill passed.

This is your misinterpretation, Aceman! I am very happy that people will not suffer the way we did.

[qesehmk]

It is thought provoking to expect a society which calls a specific category of people African American when almost all of them has got nothing to do Africa for generations.

Valid point Ace. But to America's credit America talks about race, past injustice, compares black people's income levels to whites and so on so forth. What's quite heartening is that many times white people themselves speak up for Blacks.

I never see Indians speaking for their own oppressed people. We don't recognize we did something wrong or our ancestors did something wrong. We never question how come in India only "certain" castes seem to be omnipresent in all high posts - be it government or private sector. India's systemic racism/casteism is far worse than we like to think.

I hope that people on this forum who are looking forward to be American citizens some day, get inspired by America and try to give our own Dalits Muslims Farmers SC ST NT and perhaps most importantly women the same dignity and rights and opportunities that we aspire to get here in US as minority immigrants.

[gcconnect]

This is basically it. We are unhappy the new comers will face less misery than us.
We don’t care the country cap is unfair, we are upset a 2020 filer can adjust the status in 2 years if the bill passed.

We faced very very less misery compared to people in India before 1947 . But the survivor is always strong and face challenges.

[Zenzone]

This is basically it. We are unhappy the new comers will face less misery than us.
We don’t care the country cap is unfair, we are upset a 2020 filer can adjust the status in 2 years if the bill passed.

You hit the nail on the head my friend! Personally I'm in the same boat as many others who filed in October this year after 10 years of waiting so this bill practically doesn't do much for me. I'm still vexed about many many other indian backloggers who are looking at many years (if not decades) of waiting. It's simply unfair and repugnant to have this country cap going and people thinking its somehow justified as business as usual just because we waited everyone else should wait too! That's cerebral myopia and this thinking is music to the ears of restrictionists who make the most of this shut the door after me attitude of some of us. I feel its critical to be a bit altruistic and broad-minded in our thinking here. After all, its our social responsibility to sow the seeds to more welcoming America of the future and its our own kids who will benefit from it in the longer run instead of thinking howcome this chotu who just applied last year can get his EAD when I waited for 10 years. Instead ask yourself why not!!

[gs1968]

Thanks gs. The fight for country caps has been difficult because all sides understand this is the lynchpin for eventual lifiting up of overall EB immigration limit.

Once we have generalized the pain then all those nationalities will rise up and demand increasing the limits. My sense is it will happen much sooner than all of us can imagine today.

From your lips/fingertips to God's ears. We should never lose sight of the fact that for all the hand wringing and fighting on various forums/social media the 120K visas we are talking about only accounts for 0.00036 % of the total US population. I have said this many times before that i still don't understand why it is so hard to increase it by at least 50% annually. Biden says that he will increase refugee entries to 125000 and continue increasing every year (I whole-heartedly support this) and nobody bats an eyelid on either side.These will actually be new people arriving into the USA and not folks who are already here waiting to adjust

[AceMan]

Valid point Ace. But to America's credit America talks about race, past injustice, compares black people's income levels to whites and so on so forth. What's quite heartening is that many times white people themselves speak up for Blacks.

I never see Indians speaking for their own oppressed people. We don't recognize we did something wrong or our ancestors did something wrong. We never question how come in India only "certain" castes seem to be omnipresent in all high posts - be it government or private sector. India's systemic racism/casteism is far worse than we like to think.

I hope that people on this forum who are looking forward to be American citizens some day, get inspired by America and try to give our own Dalits Muslims Farmers SC ST NT and perhaps most importantly women the same dignity and rights and opportunities that we aspire to get here in US as minority immigrants.

You put up a very important point Q. Yesterday I was talking to a colleague of mine from Tamil Nadu and the entire state was praying for the success of their newest bowler in the Indian team. He is the first player from Tamil Nadu from under privileged class to come up the ranks from that state.

I have learned from US, charity is not cheap. I was auditing our funds for the relief and construction we provided from people who suffered losses in natural disaster couple of years back, I realized there is cutting the corners every where.

I was a part of the volunteer team for supplying food to underprivileged people in NYC. I was manning the frozen proteins and giving 1 or 2 chicken as said in the directive sheet. By around noon a person who was the director came and took 2-3 chicken and left. I couldn’t bear the fact that person was taking the chicken meant for people and reported to the site leader. He just relieved me from the position.

So yes, Q I volunteer and I ask tough questions when I see unacceptable practices being done in the name of charity. I always have a moral dilemma. Should I let something slide for greater good or a stickler or ideologue for what I stand

[gs1968]

Tweet from Zoe Lofgren

Yesterday the Senate passed an amended version of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act.
While I recognize the sincerity of all Members struggling to find solutions, unfortunately the provisions sent to the House by the Senate most likely make matters worse, not better.

I plan to swiftly & thoughtfully work with my colleagues to resolve outstanding issues & get a measure across the finish line that can pass both Houses of Congress.

No timeline is given for the end result but I assume she means by the time this Congress adjourns before Christmas

[Turbulent_Dragonfly]

https://www.visalaw.com/siskind-summ...t-2020-852020/

Summary from Siskind.

[shriny]

You put up a very important point Q. Yesterday I was talking to a colleague of mine from Tamil Nadu and the entire state was praying for the success of their newest bowler in the Indian team. He is the first player from Tamil Nadu from under privileged class to come up the ranks from that state.

I used Tamil Nadu because that is the place the caste violence is still rampant.

I have learned from US, charity is not cheap. I was auditing our funds for the relief and construction we provided from people who suffered losses in natural disaster couple of years back, I realized there is cutting the corners every where.

I was a part of the volunteer team for supplying food to underprivileged people in NYC. I was manning the frozen proteins and giving 1 or 2 chicken as said in the directive sheet. By around noon a person who was the director came and took 2-3 chicken and left. I couldn’t bear the fact that person was taking the chicken meant for people and reported to the site leader. He just relieved me from the position.

So yes, Q I volunteer and I ask tough questions when I see unacceptable practices being done in the name of charity. I always have a moral dilemma. Should I let something slide for greater good or a stickler or ideologue for what I stand

I just want to point out one thing in this post, not sure where you got the data about caste violence in states, we all know that caste-based discrimination and violence is a common issue in India and there are states much worse than TN, yes I agree there are incidents but that doesn't mean it is so bad.


don't want to start an argument, but just want to add TN stands in front when it comes to social justice compared to any other state

[Turbulent_Dragonfly]

Zoe Lofgren's comments are definitely concerning since there are only a couple of weeks left. By this time, if this was moving forward to be passed in the House, there should have been no more surprises bringing it to the House.

[Zenzone]

I just want to point out one thing in this post, not sure where you got the data about caste violence in states, we all know that caste-based discrimination and violence is a common issue in India and there are states much worse than TN, yes I agree there are incidents but that doesn't mean it is so bad.


don't want to start an argument, but just want to add TN stands in front when it comes to social justice compared to any other state

As a proud Tamil Indian I second your views here

[mitul75]

The statement above is in present tense. So I guess it's up for interpretation if they are currently affiliated with the military forces (which is a smaller set of people) or if they ever have been a part of it as required by mandatory service. The future of the bill hinges on which side the argument lands on.

Right... that's what Siskind thinks as well (https://www.visalaw.com/siskind-summ...t-2020-852020/)
“Affiliated with” is not defined, though the language looks to be present tense so would not affect people who are no longer a part of or “affiliated with” either organization.

The big question now is, will House members agree to pass a bill identical in language to the amended bill, that too within a short timeframe? Because when a new divided congress takes office, they are sure to kick the can down the road.

Should the bill become law, that would be a huge win for the Indian population waiting for ages for their GC, waiting helplessly as each day of their life passes right in front of their eyes.

[Zenzone]

Right... that's what Siskind thinks as well (https://www.visalaw.com/siskind-summ...t-2020-852020/)
“Affiliated with” is not defined, though the language looks to be present tense so would not affect people who are no longer a part of or “affiliated with” either organization.

The big question now is, will House members agree to pass a bill identical in language to the amended bill, that too within a short timeframe? Because when a new divided congress takes office, they are sure to kick the can down the road.

Should the bill become law, that would be a huge win for the Indian population waiting for ages for their GC, waiting helplessly as each day of their life passes right in front of their eyes.

Quick question. I thought the House had to just pass the amendments in the senate version and it becomes good to go to POTUS. Am I wrong?

[qesehmk]

As a proud Tamil Indian I second your views here

As a proud marathi I second you seconding Shriny

I think India has its shameful stuff but also a very rich culture very unique to each state, a generally tolerant population, and off late there are many more positive changes that I am observing. Cities are much more cosmopolitan. At least in Pune (where I come from) nobody needs parent permission to marry anymore. Parents don't care much about caste of the bride or groom etc. That's all great!

[qesehmk]

I feel concerned about Zoe Lofgren's comments. However I have no doubt on her sincerity to try her best to move this forward (particularly because HR1044 is her baby).

Folks we all owe her big time. As far as I know she is the first lawmaker ever to take up this cause of removing country caps.

Never forget this.

[AceMan]

I just want to point out one thing in this post, not sure where you got the data about caste violence in states, we all know that caste-based discrimination and violence is a common issue in India and there are states much worse than TN, yes I agree there are incidents but that doesn't mean it is so bad.


don't want to start an argument, but just want to add TN stands in front when it comes to social justice compared to any other state

My sincere apologies, if I had disrespected Tamil Nadu, that was not my intention. Re reading my post , I can see what I presented can be interpreted as pointing fingers. During my PG days I had been invited to a marriage of my classmates sister to Thirunelveli, and we were told not cross some areas as there was some disputes there. My idea was formulated by the eerie sense prevailing at the time of the marriage with is unfair to attribute to the whole state or even to the city.