Lawmakers in US immigration summit address Green Card backlog, H-1B visa issues

At a recent immigration summit ‘Tech Immigration Summit’ held at the US Capitol, lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties came together to highlight the urgent need to address the Green Card backlog, which is significantly impacting Indian professionals and issues related to the H-1B visa.

The Green Card is officially known as a Permanent Resident Card, which allows people to live and work permanently in the United States.

The summit hosted by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS), the summit saw lawmakers advocating for the removal of the 7% country cap for issuing Green Cards to foreign guest workers in specialised categories.

Without this change, the waiting period for Indian immigrants could stretch beyond 20 years, and even exceed 70 years in certain cases, news agency PTI reported.

Ro Khanna, Indian-American Congressman, co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, emphasised the importance of a rational immigration policy.

“We know that immigrants have helped build Silicon Valley, that so many of the companies that have started, that have created so many jobs that have created so much employment have been founded by immigrants from India, from China, from Asia, the Middle East, from Europe,” he said.

Khanna is aiming to eliminate country caps to prevent workers from being stuck in status, which harms both American workers and H-1B visa holders.

“It will help raise wages, help American workers, and help these families. We also should be providing a Green Card to folks who are educating in the United States. It makes no sense that we’re paying for someone’s education at college or giving them STEM, and then we’re telling them that they have to go back to where they came from when American taxpayers are funding the education. I’d rather stay here, create the jobs here instead of offshoring those jobs,” Khanna said.

LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR IMMIGRATION REFORMS

Congressman Eric Swalwell emphasised the broader impact of fixing the immigration system, linking it to addressing challenges in healthcare, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.

Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American Congressman, said, “The American immigration system is broken,” the news agency PTI reported.

We need legal immigration solidified; our businesses need that. Every time I meet CEOs of companies, they tell me how important it is to be able to find a skilled workforce. Today we are losing so many people to Australia to Canada because they’re taking advantage of our broken immigration system. We need to be able to keep the skilled workforce in the US. That’s going to help our GDP, that’s going to help our businesses to grow, and that’s going to create more American jobs,” he said.

Congressmen Rich McCormick and Raja Krishnamoorthi called for passage of the relevant legislation from the US Congress.

Khanderao Kand from FIIDS pointed out that technological immigrants play a crucial role as leading entrepreneurs in major industries.

He emphasised that their situation, particularly for those coming from India, is hindered by the 7% country quota, leading to a substantial backlog in Green Card processing.

Representatives from various organisations, along with impacted individuals, expressed hope for meaningful reform to create a more efficient and inclusive immigration system.

Alongside numerous US lawmakers, representatives from think tanks, and an official from the Department of State, testimonies were heard from individuals affected by the immigration system, including those awaiting green cards, documented Dreamers, family members, and students.