EDISON, NJ: The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Tri-State urged the Members of the US House of Representatives to pass the Immigration Bill S 744 that would correct several flaws of the current legal immigration system besides enhancing existing border security operations and providing legal status to undocumented children and youth now enrolled in educational institutions across the US.
In a signed memorandum submitted to Congressman Pete Sessions of the House of Representatives (Park CentralVII-Dallas, Texas) during a seminar on Immigration reforms organized by the Federation here, it said the Bill would also help earn status adjustment of agricultural workers, future immigration of skilled workers, creation of merit based workers and Conrad state 30 program for physicians.
The bill also ensures employment verification system, increase in H1B visa limits, non-immigrant investor visas, changes in family preference categories which would reclassify spouses and minor children of permanent residents as immediate relatives and increase the allocations of Immigrant Visas to name a few.
In a bipartisan effort, the US Senate passed the Bill S.744 “Border, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 by 68 to 32 votes on June 27, 2013. Most of the Democrat and several GOP Senators supported the bipartisan effort to get the bill passed by the Senate. It now needs the approval of the House of Representatives where Republicans are in majority.
“We fully support most of the provisions of the Senate Bill and believe that the House will also support most of the provisions contained in S.744. However, there are some provisions that need to be modified as these are contrary to the family reunification, which is the corner stone of Immigration laws,” the FIA memorandum added.
The elimination of family fourth preference category (brothers and sisters of US Citizen) would cause separation of families. Similarly restricting age of 31 years for married sons and daughters of US Citizens under Family in third preference will result in separation of married children from their parents and other family members. Both these family preference categories have played an important role in the family reunification of immigrant families. We urge congress and seek your support for not making any changes in both of these categories, it said.
The FIA noted that another area of major concern of US employers of foreign nationals relates to hiring of foreign skilled workers in H1B and L1 visas, which will be subjected to serious restrictions and would therefore face alterations in almost every respect, particularly for the high volume employers.
“While we understand the concern of the Congress on fraud and misuse in these categories and concern about displacement of US workers, there are already several anti-fraud features existing and also incorporated in the bill, including DOL authority to conduct LCA investigations as and when required,” the memorandum stated.
The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut established in the year 1970, is one of the largest umbrella organizations in the Indian community representing and providing grass-root support to over 500,000 member strong vibrant Asian-Indian community.
FIA understands there are certain disagreements between the S-744 and proposed bills in House of Representative, mainly the passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill vs. piece meal legislation, such as Dream Act, Stem Act, Guest workers, Border, Security, and Enforcement etc. and whether Path to Citizenship, should be provided to aliens in unlawful status or undocumented aliens.
These issues can be resolved in a bipartisan effort. The S.744 Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act is the way that sets out an Immigration structure, addresses vital elements not included in the past immigration reform efforts.
The memorandum was signed by Ramesh Patel, Chairman of FIA; Sanjay Amin, president of FIA (2013), Ankur Vaidya (President-elect for 2014) and Michael Phulwani, legal counsel of FIA.
PM Swamy
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