USA Green Card Immigration Blog

Commentary: Immigration reform takes courage – CNN.com.

No one knows whether the bill could be approved this year. If the debate carries over until 2010, midterm elections could put the issue off until 2011 — which could still work out well for the White House because achieving immigration reform would play well with Hispanics in Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

This time around, congressional leaders would be wise to avoid those pitfalls and focus on solving the three big problems: porous borders; the difficulty in immigrating legally; and the fact that 12 million illegal immigrants are in a state of suspended animation where they work hard, pay taxes, buy homes, and join the PTA, but never achieve full civic participation and the responsibilities that come with it.

News Analysis: Obama Launches Immigration Reform Effort, But Lines Are Already Being Drawn « Feet In 2 Worlds, Immigration News.

So what was the result of President Obama’s meeting with lawmakers on Thursday, June 25?  On the table was the topic of immigration reform.  Obama’s goal was to get both sides talking about the issues.  On what did they agree and on what did they disagree?  And is immigration reform truly a possibility during the current administration, when so many other issues (finance, healthcare, Iraq/Afghanistan, Iran/N. Korea) are still unresolved?

The renewed commitment from the Oval Office might allay advocates’ fears that the current economic crisis, as well as Obama’s high-profile efforts to enact health care reform would prevent the President and Congress from dealing with immigration this year.

Obama continued to push for a “large-scale legalization program” that would basically provide amnesty and forgiveness to about 11 million undocumented immigrants.  What is more uncertain is what to do about future immigrants.  The thorniest issue here involves expansion of the current low-skill guest worker program, which US businesses say is too small, but organized labor unions say is already too large.  The same line of reasoning goes for the current H1-B program for highly-skilled workers.

Politically speaking,  the 800-pound gorilla in the room is the economy.  Despite arguments from immigration reform advocates that large-scale reform will actually bring economic benefits, members of Congress have so far proven skittish about taking on such a heated issue in the midst of the recession.

Labor Set to Fight Over Guest Workers – WSJ.com.

Yet another example of the general ignorance the American public has concerning guest workers and the (false) perception that foreigners with H-1B visas are displacing qualified American workers.  Bogus.  American companies wouldn’t have the voracious appetite for foreigners if there were sufficient US workers qualified and willing to work in these positions.  It looks like battle lines are being drawn for the next push for major legislative immigration reform.  One point that does make sense:  it is doubtful that any immigration bill that is “immigrant friendly” will become law in the current economic climate.

Wall Street Still Finds Ways to Hire Foreigners – WSJ.com.

According to this article in the WSJ today, companies continue to find ways to circumvent federal limits on hiring skilled foreigners.  Financial institutions who’ve accepted TARP funds under the emergency economic stimulus package are now required to prove that no qualified American workers are available for the jobs they seek to fill with foriengers via the H-1B visa program.  Apparently, the restrictions don’t count if the company hires the foreigner anyway and simply ships them to work anywhere offshore.  The same reasoning probably holds for all those non-TARP companies that are in a bind to find qualified workers–American or not–to fill jobs.  What do you think?  Doesn’t this just mean that continued attempts by the US Government to limit foreign worker visas is futile?  Should H-1B visa caps be completely scrapped?