Posted on 09/06/2007 6:03:53 PM PDT by Delacon
The STRIVE Act may still be in play and, with it, higher H-1B caps
It appears that the STRIVE (Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy) Act of 2007 isn't quite dead after all.
On Thursday, the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees Border Security, and International Law convened and on its first day took written statements from witnesses on the bill.
The comprehensive immigration bill that caused such a furor earlier this year, mainly over the issue of whether it was offering amnesty to illegal immigrants, also addressed the H-1B visa cap.
The cap, now set at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 reserved for foreign workers who have a graduate degree from a U.S. institution, would be raised to 115,000 for 2008 with a stipulation that it would go up an additional 20 percent each year that the quota was met, with a final cap of 180,000 visas issued.
At the hearing, STRIVE Act cosponsor Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona did not specifically bring up the issue of H-1B, but he did say that the STRIVE Act "addresses the failures and problems with past worker programs."
Countering Flake's premise, Julie Kirchner, the government relations director for the Federation for American Immigration Reform said, "These provisions are a serious threat to high-tech workers in the U.S., including legal immigrants who have patiently waited their turn to take part in the American dream."
In total, there were a dozen witnesses submitting written statements, but the others did not address the issue of the H-1B visa cap.
Sadly, that's a rhetorical question.
Whenever you win something, you have to defend your win.
Har har. The fat lady has yet to sing.
I am not opposed to raising the number of educated/skilled immigrants we allow to enter the country legally. These people will end up paying more in taxes than they demand in services. They represent a net gain for our economy. We can argue about the number, I guess.
I am overwhelmingly opposed to allowing anyone to enter our country illegally.
Frankly, I’m all for more H1B’s for immigrants educated here. They are usually very Americanized, and all we are doing by forcing them to go home is exporting US trained expertise and knowledge — one of any nation’s most valuable resources. At the same time, we are facing a very real shortage of engineers and the like. It makes no sense.
Drug runners, welfare seekers, etc.: Kick ‘em out. US educated immigrants who want to work here, helping our economy: Let ‘em in. Heck, if it was up to me, if you came here for an education, you would HAVE to stay 5 or 10 years to help OUR economy and tech base!
This isn’t rocket science. Speaking of which, without enough engineers, we will LOSE our edge in rocket science and other tech., with MAJOR negative consequences for our economy and military.
Yes it’s back. Michael Medved was defending the illegals today. He referred to fringe elements in the Minutemen thus trashing the organization without being “all inclusive”. CLICK
BTW Medved carries the water for the full GOP line regardless of validity. He did it once for only one day as the GOP dropped the position.
Second verse..
same as the first.
Your Chamber of Commerce gunning for the livelihood of ordinary Americans.
Read my tag.
Agreed on both counts (see my post just after yours).
FReepmail to be added to the Congress Watch Ping List.
If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers - normally good Americans, but Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free, Americans who have been lulled away into a false security. -- Ezra Taft Benson
ping
Took the liberty of making this front page news. Thanks for posting this, and I hope others bump it early and often.
“I am not opposed to raising the number of educated/skilled immigrants we allow to enter the country legally.”
Neither do I. The article I posted doesn’t cover other aspects of the Strive Act that has been around since March 07. I googled and found only two articles covering the fall congress’s reopening of hearings over the Strive Act. Me thinks the MSM has decided to try to keep “comprehensive immigration reform” under the radar this time around. If congress wanted to dump amnesty they could have drawn up a new bill. Nope, they are going forward with the house bill(the other bill simular to the Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 the Senate caught so much hell for).
“I am overwhelmingly opposed to allowing anyone to enter our country illegally.”
Check out Article 6 of the Strive Act as it now stands. Its amnesty.
TITLE VI: EARNED LEGALIZATION FOR QUALIFIED, HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS
Visa Program for Qualified Undocumented Workers: Creates a new visa program (conditional nonimmigrant status) for undocumented immigrants and their spouses and children in the U.S., which is valid for six years. Provides conditional nonimmigrant visa applicants with work and travel authorization and protection from removal. Provides certain immigrants in removal proceedings, facing removal, or ordered to depart voluntarily with an opportunity to apply for conditional nonimmigrant status. Bars related to undocumented status will be waived (security and criminal bars cannot be waived);
Requirements for Conditional Nonimmigrant Status:
Establish continuous presence in the U.S. on or before June 1, 2006;
Attest to employment in the U.S. before June 1, 2006 and employment since that date (and submit related documentation);
Complete criminal and security background checks;
Pay a $500 fine plus necessary application fees (fine exemption for children).
Other Criteria for Conditional Nonimmigrant Status:
The individual must not be ineligible to receive a visa pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act;
The individual has not been convicted of a felony or three or more misdemeanors;
The individual has not participated in the persecution of another person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion;
The individual has not been convicted by final judgment of a particularly serious crime and there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the alien has committed a particularly serious crime abroad before arriving in the U.S.; and
There is a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment for anyone who willfully falsifies information in an application for conditional nonimmigrant status.
Earned Citizenship: Provides qualified conditional nonimmigrants and their spouses and children with an opportunity to apply for lawful permanent resident status (green card) and eventual citizenship. Applicants go to the back of the line for permanent visas; the current immigrant backlogs must be cleared before qualified conditional nonimmigrant visa applicants (and their families) can adjust to permanent resident status. Immigrants who adjust from a conditional nonimmigrant visa (including dependents) to lawful permanent resident status shall not be counted against the worldwide numerical visa caps.
Requirements for Earned Citizenship:
Meet employment requirements during the six-year period immediately preceding the application for adjustment;
Pay a $1,500 fine plus application fees;
Complete criminal and security background checks;
Establish registration under the selective service (if applicable);
Meet English and civic requirements;
Undergo a medical examination;
Pay all taxes;
Show admissibility to the U.S.; and
Meet a “Legal Reentry” requirement during the six-year period in conditional nonimmigrant status but no later than 90 days before filing an application for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status. Paperwork processing is performed in the U.S. An exit and re-entry through any port-of-entry is required. Limited exceptions apply.
Round 3
I agree with what you say. I wish there was an article out there right now that covers the other areas of the Strive Act that are now going to be pushed by congress. The article skips over the amnesty parts of the bill. Read my post 13.
Looky...
Go to Flake’s website.
Rail-car # 2 in the ‘Train’. #1 was the Truckers Plan.
Yea they "learned" last time... They will keep coming out with this until they get their cheap slave labor that you and I will pay for.
Is there anyway you can speed up the election as well :)
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