“Immigrants make this country stronger and our economy more dynamic,” says Cook.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has become the latest Silicon Valley heavyweight to bat for S.386, or the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which is currently before the Senate.
The tech leader urged the Senate “to move quickly to pass” the bill, which would remove country-specific quota for Green Cards and end the backlog. He tweeted: “Immigrants make this country stronger and our economy more dynamic. As a first step toward needed comprehensive reform, I urge the Senate to move quickly to pass the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The contributions of these workers are critical to America’s future.”
The companion bill of S.386, “Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act,” or H.R. 1044, was passed by the US House of Representatives on July 10.
S.386 was introduced in the Senate the day before — on July 9 — by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Its cosponsors include Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris.
The bill is being blocked by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, and Sen. Rand Paul R-Kentucky, who introduced their own bills in place of S.386.
RELATED: What is the ‘RELIEF Act’ that Sen. Dick Durbin is proposing in place of S.386? (October 17, 2019)
Durbin introduced his bill Wednesday. The bill, “RELIEF or Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families Act” (S.2603), proposes to amend “the Immigration and Nationality Act to end the immigrant visa backlog” and increase the number of Green Cards.
While introducing the bill, Durbin criticized Lee for trying to pass S.386 without any debate or hearing. He accused the Utah Republican of negotiating amendments with his Republican colleagues in private. “That is not how the Senate should work,” Durbin said.
Paul’s bill, S.2091, or “Backlog Elimination, Legal Immigration, and Employment Visa Enhancement” (BELIVE) Act, also proposes to remove the Green Card backlogs for employment-based visa holders.
RELATED: Thousands march in Chicago to persuade Sen. Dick Durbin to support S.386 (October 11, 2019)
Indian immigration activists, however, denounced both RELIEF Act and BELIEVE Act. San Jose-based based Netra Chavan, who runs a large Facebook group, tweeted:
“US citizens need jobs not Green cards @SenatorDurbin – RELIEF ACT @RandPaul – BELIEVE ACT, let’s not fool them. We are locals with approved GC status in our HOME. Remove hold from S386 & ACT before our children self-deport @21 age. TIME to knock FEAR ACT for FREEDOM. JAI HIND.”
READ MORE:
Sen. David Perdue reverses stand on S. 386, but Sen. Dick Durbin blocks vote (September 26, 2019)
Indian immigration activists to rally in Chicago to pressure Sen. Dick Durbin on S.386 (October 10, 2019)
Petition launched on the White House website in support of Senate bill S. 386 (July 16, 2019)
New petition on White House site calls for passing S. 386, which would eliminate green card country cap (September 25, 2019)
House passes Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act, H.R. 1044 (July 10, 2019)
The newly passed H.R.1044 raises caps for family-based green cards (July 10, 2019)
Will Trump’s proposed immigration reform benefit Indians? What will be its impact on Green Card backlog? (May 20, 2019)
Threat of deportation is real for undocumented South Asians in US (April 17, 2019)
New US visa rules makes migrating to Canada more attractive for Indian professionals (April 5, 2019)
Waiting for the Wait to End: The human face of Indian immigrants caught in the Green Card backlog (December 4, 2018)
How Netra Chavan channeled her own frustrations to build an H4 and H-1B visa support system (February 14, 2019)
RHC’s H-1B rally demands elimination of Green Card backlog, protection for ‘DALCA’ children (February 10, 2019)
Trump talks about changes in H-1B Visa, including a possible citizenship (January 11, 2019)
Trump’s tweet on H-1B and path to citizenship evokes lukewarm response (January 12, 2019)
H-4 and H-1: Time for Indian immigrants to speak up on immigration policy, says author Amy Bhatt (January 5, 2019)
The unstable life of Indians on H-1B visa in the US due to visa renewal policy (October 28, 2016)
High-skilled Indian workers, DALCA kids, rally on Capitol Hill to clear green card backlog (June 15, 2018)
Reverse brain drain – the experience of three couples who moved back to India from the US (January 20, 2014)