Focus on illegal immigrants.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: GOP leaders met for a retreat this week to focus on the divisive issue of immigration reform in the US, resulting in some surprisingly flexible and well-defined guidelines to deal with undocumented workers in the US but little in the way of illuminating what would happen for those wishing to come to the US on H-1B and L-1 worker visas.
In addressing the topic of immigrants coming into the US for jobs, House Republican leaders only commented that it was important for such people to come with the needs of America first and foremost on their minds, and that they “do not displace or disadvantage American workers.” That section of the GOP guidelines then went into the needs of the US agricultural industry, leaving it vague as to who or what the principles really refer to.
Additionally, the GOP provisions condemn recent immigration law trends that favor giving green cards to extended family members of citizens and engaging in a random lottery system, rather than giving preference to those here for school and jobs
“This is inconsistent with nearly every other developed nation,” said GOP leaders. “Every year thousands of foreign nationals pursue degrees at America’s colleges and universities, particularly in high skilled fields. Many of them want to use their expertise in US industries that will spur economic growth and create jobs for Americans.”
The H-1B visa program was not mentioned. The focus of the GOP retreat, which took place in the secluded town of Cambridge, Maryland, was on illegal immigration – specifically, what to do with the more than 11 million undocumented immigrants already within US borders.
For the first time since the topic of immigration reform has come up during the Obama administration, Republicans have said that they are willing to work on a path to permanent residency for the aforementioned illegal aliens, but they still have their caveats.
Chief among them is that they do not endorse President Barack Obama’s plan to allow a “special path” to citizenship for many such immigrants, saying that they would have to go to the back of the green card line and wait like everyone else.
1 Comment
Just another diversion by GOP, to create additional market for US universities, as a purchased means of getting a green card. J1s already given hiring preference over US students with same degrees from same universities. US STEM population unemployed.