Legal Immigration

Congress' First Quarter Saw Little Action on Immigration, But That Should Change Going Forward

Updated: April 8th, 2011, 10:44 am

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  by  Jonathan Osborne

Last week marked the end of the first quarter of the 112th Congress. With more than 100 new Members of the House and Senate, the 112th Congress opened for business with the largest Freshman class in 60 years. While this Congress was destined for some tough fights considering a sizable Republican majority in the House, a Democrat-controlled Senate, and a President not prone to compromise, the best word to describe the first quarter of this Congress is: slow.

Sen. David Vitter Introduces Birthright Citizenship Act

Sen. David Vitter

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Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) has introduced legislation in the Senate that would amend federal law to require at least one parent of all children born in the United States be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (S.723) amends section 301 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and is similar to legislation offered by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in the House.

Immigration Angle Missing from Today's Economic News

Updated: July 24th, 2017, 3:29 pm

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  by  Jeremy Beck

According to Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman, immigration policy reduces American employment opportunities and lowers existing workers' wages. Following the April jobs report, major newspapers assured us that the economy is improving. The devil, however, is in the details.

END VISA LOTTERY: 3 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Hartzler, Jenkins & Johnson)

Reps. Hartzler, Jenkins & Johnson

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Reps. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), and Sam Johnson (R-Texas) have co-sponsored the bi-partisan SAFE for America Act of 2011 that would end the Visa Lottery. The Visa Lottery issues 50,000 green cards based on "random selection" instead of humanitarian need, family connection, or other economic or cultural value to the United States.

Immigration Chair Gallegly Holds Productive Hearing on Visa Lottery, but Few Members Attend

Updated: April 6th, 2011, 5:32 pm

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  by  Jonathan Osborne

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement hosted a hearing Tuesday afternoon to debate H.R.704, the SAFE for America Act, which would end the Visa Lottery Program. While debate of the issue was engaging, speeches on the House floor and a suspicious package led to only three Members of Congress taking part in the hearing.

END VISA LOTTERY: 3 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Forbes, McKinley & Posey)

Reps. Forbes, McKinley & Posey

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Reps. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), David McKinley (R-W.V.), and Bill Posey (R-Fla.) have co-sponsored the bi-partisan SAFE for America Act of 2011 that would end the Visa Lottery. The Visa Lottery issues 50,000 green cards based on "random selection" instead of humanitarian need, family connection, or other economic or cultural value to the United States.

Guestworker/Offshoring Scandal Gets (a little) Media Attention

Updated: April 5th, 2011, 11:58 am

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  by  Jeremy Beck

High tech companies use legal guest worker programs to displace American workers and eventually move many Americans' jobs overseas. Although this harmful practice that has cost hundreds of thousands of skilled Americans their jobs has been ongoing for more than 15 years, it has received scant attention in Washington D.C. or in the national media. But because of testimony given at a recent House Subcommittee hearing on H-1b visas and a whistle-blower scandal from within one of the largest users of the H-1b program, Americans are about to become enlightened.

New Study Finds 57% of Immigrant Households with Children Use Welfare

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A new study from the Center of Immigration Studies shows that 57% of households headed by an immigrant with children under the age of 18 receive some form of welfare. Only 39% of native born households with children receive welfare services. The study included households headed by both illegal and legal immigrants

Rep. David McKinley Becomes First Freshman to Join 5-for-5 Club

Rep. David McKinley

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Rep. David McKinley (R-W.V.) has become the first freshman from the 112th Congress to join NumbersUSA's 5-for-5 club after sponsoring at least one bill for each of our 5 Great Solutions. Over the past week, Rep. McKinley has co-sponsored the SAFE for America Act (H.R.704) that would end the Visa Lottery, the Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end Chain Migration, the CLEAR Act (H.R.100) that would assist in the local enforcement of immigration laws, and the E-LAW Act (H.R.800) that would mandate E-Verify.

Immigration hawk likes TPaw

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In 2008, the executive director of the immigration reduction group NumbersUSA waged war on Sen. John McCain over his efforts to give illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship. Now looking at a crowded field of 2012 hopefuls, Roy Beck says he's rooting for Tim Pawlenty.

“He’s the one guy who has not backed himself into a bad corner,” Beck said. “He has kept all of his good options open.”http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52378.html

By Kendra Marr -- Politico.com

House Subcommittee Hearing on H-1B Visas Misses an Opportunity to Stand Up for Unemployed Americans

Updated: March 19th, 2014, 5:00 pm

Published:  

  by  Jonathan Osborne

The House Immigration Subcommittee hosted a hearing on the impact of the H-1B visa program and whether it meets the needs of the U.S economy and its workers. Unfortunately, the issues of fraud and program management remained the primary topics of concern instead of whether or not foreign workers are still necessary during the peak of our recession.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: 4 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Bachus, Foxx, McKinley & Ross)

(clockwise from upper left) Reps. Bachus, Foxx, McKinley & Ross

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Reps. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), David McKinley (R-W.V.), and Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) have added their names to the growing list of co-sponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

Arizona Is Immigration Debate's Ground Zero With Hispanic Majority In View

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The 2010 census found 43.2 percent of Arizonans under 18 were Hispanic and that whites were for the first time in a minority in that age group, at 41.6 percent. The ethnic and generational changes set the stage for Arizona to become a “test case” for responding to demographic trends as the U.S. becomes more diverse and increasingly Hispanic, said Jeff Milem, an education professor University of Arizona in Tucson.

NumbersUSA Member has first-hand experience with H-1B visa fraud

Updated: March 30th, 2011, 11:12 am

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  by  Chris Chmielenski

A few weeks ago, one of our members posted a great comment on a blog about the media's perception of the H-1B visa program. The member, who wishes to remain anonymous, used to work for both Oracle and Hewlett-Packard and was an integral part of the companies' abuses of the H-1B visa program. He recruited high-tech workers from Latin America and Asia, and then worked with immigration lawyers who capitalized on the various loopholes within the program.

END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP: 3 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Flores, Fortenberry & Schweikert)

Reps. Flores, Fortenberry & Schweikert

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Reps. Bill Flores (R-Texas), Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.), and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) have cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The bill currently has 70 cosponsors and amends current U.S. code to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident for a new born to receive automatic citizenship.

Why does the U.S. restrict H-1B visas? To protect American workers.

Updated: June 8th, 2017, 3:00 pm

Published:  

  by  Jeremy Beck

The NBC Nightly News' segment, "Can America Keep Best, Brightest Immigrants?" asks a seemingly-straightforward question: "Many foreigners come here, get educated, and want to stay, but can’t. How can the U.S. take advantage of their potential?" The report takes a look at the H-1B (non-immigrant) visa program, which was created in 1993 to allow skilled workers - particularly in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields - to enter the U.S. on a temporary basis. The "temporary" part of the visa has NBC and the featured personalities in this story concerned. Their thesis is simple: "America's visa restrictions lead to reverse brain drain," depriving the U.S. economy of the job creators it desperately needs.

CIS: Nearly 200,000 Children Born in U.S. to Temporary Foreign Visitors

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A new report by the Center for Immigration Studies finds that 200,000 children were born to women who were lawfully admitted to the United States on a temporary basis. These 200,000 children receive automatic citizenship to the United States despite the mother's allegiance to another nation. The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 (H.R.140) would end the practice of birthright citizenship.

END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP: 4 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Bartlett, Fleming, Hall & Schmidt)

(clockwise from upper left) Reps. Bartlett, Fleming, Hall & Schmidt

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Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), John Fleming (R-La.), Ralph Hall (R-Texas), and Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) have cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The bill currently has 68 cosponsors and amends current U.S. code to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident for a new born to receive automatic citizenship.

END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP: 4 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Burton, Garrett, Jones & Stutzman)

(clockwise from upper left) Reps. Burton, Garrett, Jones & Stutzman

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Reps. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), and Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) have cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The bill currently has 68 cosponsors and amends current U.S. code to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident for a new born to receive automatic citizenship.

END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP: 4 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Akin, Coffman, Crawford & Lamborn)

(clockwise from upper left) Reps. Akin, Coffman, Crawford & Lamborn

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Reps. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) have cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The bill currently has 68 cosponsors and amends current U.S. code to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident for a new born to receive automatic citizenship.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: 3 More Co-Sponsor Bill (Bartlett, Carter & Johnson)

Reps. Bartlett, Carter & Johnson

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Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), John Carter (R-Texas), and Sam Johnson (R-Texas) have added their names to the growing list of co-sponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP: 4 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Broun, Kingston, Posey & Westmoreland)

(clockwise from upper left) Reps. Broun, Kingston, Posey & Westmoreland

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Reps. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) have cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011 introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). The bill currently has 68 cosponsors and amends current U.S. code to require at least one parent to be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident for a new born to receive automatic citizenship.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: 3 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Graves, Miller & Roe)

Reps. Graves, Miller, and Roe

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Reps. Tom Graves (R-Ga.), Gary Miller (R-Calif.), and David Roe (R-Tenn.) have added their names to the growing list of co-sponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

Bad Polling on Birthright Citizenship

Updated: March 4th, 2011, 3:11 pm

Published:  

  by  Jeremy Beck

Poll results can vary widely, depending on how the questions are worded. Nowhere is this truer than when the subject is immigration. A recent poll conducted by the University of Texas and Texas Tribune is no different. Not only did a question regarding Birthright Citizenship mislead those being asked, but it also misrepresented the 14th Amendment.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: 3 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Jones, King & Marchant)

Reps. Jones, King & Marchant

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Reps. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Steve King (R-Iowa) and Kenny Marchant (R-Texas) have added their names to the growing list of co-sponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: 4 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Burton, Kline, Myrick & Nugent)

(clockwise from upper left) Reps. Burton, Kline, Myrick & Nugent

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Reps. Dan Burton (R-Ind.), John Kline (R-Minn.), Sue Myrick (R-N.C.), and Rich Nugent (R-Fla.) have added their names to the growing list of co-sponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

END VISA LOTTERY: 2 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Kline & Jones)

Reps. Kline and Jones

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Reps. John Kline (R-Minn.) and Walter Jones (R-N.C.) have co-sponsored the bi-partisan SAFE for America Act of 2011 that would end the Visa Lottery. The Visa Lottery issues 50,000 green cards based on "random selection" instead of humanitarian need, family connection, or other economic or cultural value to the United States.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: 2 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Miller & Westmoreland)

Reps. Miller and Westmoreland

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Reps. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) have added their names to the growing list of co-sponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

Political Upheaval In States Over Spending -- Congress Could Help By Reducing Immigration

Updated: February 24th, 2011, 5:38 pm

Published:  

  by  James Robb

What a political season we're living in! Overseas, the entire Middle East is exploding into revolution. We can only hope it leads to an improvement. And now right here in the U.S., state capitals are erupting in rancorous divisions over how to deal with huge budget shortfalls. At first blush, it looks like the issue of immigration doesn't figure that high with all the budget upheavals and foreign government changes, but keep reading . . .

Sen. Lugar's Sponsorship of DREAM Amnesty Helps Draw Primary Challenge From State Treasurer

Sen. Dick Lugar

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Senator Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) will receive a major primary challenge in his bid for a seventh term in the United States Senate in 2012. State Treasurer Richard Mourdock announced Tuesday that he'll challenge Sen. Lugar after voting repeatedly against the wishes of his constituents, including a vote in favor of the massive DREAM Act Amnesty in December of last year.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: 3 More Bill Co-Sponsors (Garrett, Sullivan & Wilson)

Reps. Garrett, Sullivan & Wilson

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Reps. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.), John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and Joe Wilson (S.C.) have added their names to the growing list of co-sponsors for Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte Introduces the SAFE Act to End the Visa Lottery

Rep. Goodlatte

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Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) reintroduced his SAFE for America Act (H.R.704) this week, which would in effect shut down the Visa Lottery. The lottery issues 50,000 green cards per year without any regard to their humanitarian needs, what they might offer the country or their having any family connections here.

END CHAIN MIGRATION: Coffman and Kingston Get Co-Sponsorship Moving

Reps. Coffman and Kingston

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Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) and Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) are the first to co-sponsor Rep. Phil Gingrey's Nuclear Family Priority Act (H.R.692) that would end chain migration. H.R.692 would eliminate all family-preference visa classes, except for spouses and minor children, and create a renewable visa class for parents.

Rep. Phil Gingrey Offers Bill to End Chain Migration

Rep. Phil Gingrey

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Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) has introduced H.R. 692 that would would eliminate the extended family visa categories (e.g., married sons and daughters of citizens, etc.), thus ending “chain migration” as recommended by the bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission in 1995. Current immigration law allows U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor non-nuclear, adult family members, creating an endless chain of mass legal immigration. Rep. Gingrey's bill would end this practice by disallowing all adult family members from receiving legal permanent residency.

Canada Reduces Family-Based Visas to Focus on 'Priority' Applicants

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Statistics from Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Department reveal a significant drop in the number of visas issued for family members living outside of the country. Last year, Canada issued 16,000 visas for family members, but that number is expected to be closer to 11,000 over the next year.

END CHAIN MIGRATION

Rep. Phil Gingrey

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Chain Migration refers to the endless and often-snowballing chains of foreign nationals who are allowed to immigrate because the law allows citizens and lawful permanent residents to bring in their extended, non-nuclear family members. It is the primary mechanism that has caused legal immigration in this country to quadruple from about 250,000 per year in the 1950s and 1960s to more than one million a year since 1990.

END VISA LOTTERY

Rep. Goodlatte & Sen. Hatch

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The Visa Lottery Program is managed by the Department of State and awards up to 55,000 permanent resident visas a year to applicants from countries with relatively low rates of immigration to the United States compared to other countries, based on data from the previous five years.

Clinton's Labor Secretary Says New Jobs Aren't Keeping Up With Population Growth (caused mainly by immigration)

Updated: July 24th, 2017, 2:54 pm

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  by  Jeremy Beck

In response to the latest unemployment report, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich laments that anemic job growth isn't even keeping up with U.S. population growth, which requires 125,000 new jobs every month just to keep unemployment from getting worse. Reich neglects to acknowledge that seventy-five percent of U.S. population growth is due to government-controlled immigration policies.

A Less Restrictive Immigration Policy is NOT Morally and Civically Best for America

picture

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All sovereign nations have the right and the duty to protect their borders. While nations do not have the right to keep people within their borders, they do have the right to keep noncitizens out.

In other words, noncitizens do NOT have a right to immigrate; rather, immigration is a privilege granted by a nation to those individuals it chooses.

So, how should nations choose to whom they grant that privilege?

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