You do know that the increase was contingent upon companies paying the same wages that American workers get, effectively assuring there would be no increase. The whole plan was a chess move on Cruz’s part to defeat the Gang of 8.
In theory that’s how it’s supposed to be now; companies are supposed to have to prove there are no qualified Americans to fill the jobs. In practice it’s not enforced. I’m not opposed to the theory, but I’m skeptical that it will be enforced any better than other parts of the immigration law. I don’t know if it was a plan, or if Sessions changed Ted’s mind, but I’m always happy when people move in the right direction.