Posted by: sirus_me July 28, 2013
Immigration Reform: A Broken Dream for Legal Immigrants?
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Couple of weeks ago, I was jubilant to hear that Immigration Reform bill has passed from Senate house and the bill has now finally been tabled to Congress for approval. The Immigration Reform bill, proposed by the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” members that embraced both GOP and Democrats not only brought optimism and support among immigrants but also prompted many elite persons to promote the bill to be passed from Congress. Even Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg requested everyone to support the bill with the movement called Fwd.US asking Congress to pass the immigration reform.  Although the immigration reform bill proposed by Senate conveyed so much optimism and aspiration for immigrants, it does not really benefit the tax-payer legal immigrants that have been residing in this country for more than a decade. Before I elucidate how it lacks the purpose, let’s look at the key points of the Immigration Bill prepared by Gang of Eight which are listed below.

1. All undocumented immigrant who arrived in the United States before Dec. 31, 2011, who haven’t committed a felony (or three misdemeanors), hold a job, and pay a $500 fine and back taxes, will immediately gain the status of “registered provisional,” allowing an individual to legally stay in the United States without risk of deportation. After 10 years only, they could apply for the green card and therefore citizenship.

2. Dreamers or people who entered into United States before the age of 16, graduated from high school and have been in United States before five years, would be eligible for the green card after five years and then citizenship.

3.Border security would be tightened by beefing up border security to reduce the illegal immigration traffic by increasing fencing and hiring more border patrol officers.

4. Every Employer is mandatory to participate in E-verify, an electronic system for determining the legal status of current and prospective employers which would require the employers to check the immigration status before hiring and employing anyone.

5. The number of H1B-Skilled Workers visas would be increased from 65,000 to at least 110,000 and up to 180,000 depending upon the employer need. Employers who use H1-B visa holders more than 30 percent would have to pay new fees.

6. A new W-visa program for low-skilled guest workers capped at 20,000 would employ immigrants for low skilled labor specifically in agriculture.

7. Finally last but not least the diversity program that uses lottery to distribute 55,000 permanent visas every year to native of countries with low rates of immigration to Unites States will be terminated starting from 2015.

                 Although the key proposal of Immigration Reform strives to improve the broken immigration system and provide much-needed reform that United States has been longing for, it loses focus for the much needed relief for legal immigrants.

Please read more about the article at m e r o a w a z.com

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Last edited: 28-Jul-13 02:17 PM
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