Legal Immigration Reform Sparks GOP Debate

A proposal to expand legal immigration reform for skilled workers has sparked a debate among Republican Senators. The bill would seek to expand the number of H-1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000. The immigration reform proposal would also allow for the expansion of that ceiling as economic circumstances allow. While the bill has nine sponsors, including some notable Republicans, other GOP members claim that the measure would limit the employment possibilities available to American workers.

Immigration Reform Bill Would Expand Visa Program

The H-1B visa discussed in the immigration reform measure allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specific jobs on a temporary basis. These jobs typically require at least a bachelor’s degree to qualify for H-1B status. They can range from computer science to biological research to business management. Many of these visas go to overseas workers with a background in computer technology. Companies such as Google and Facebook are some of the proponents of the immigration reform bill.

Immigration Reform Supporters Cite Need For Qualified Workers

Last year, Republicans blocked proposed legislation that would enact significant immigration reform measures. These actions prompted President Barack Obama to issue executive orders regarding the immigration status of 11 million undocumented immigrants. Despite their opposition to the President’s executive orders, some Senate Republicans have backed the proposal to expand the H-1B visa program. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, the primary sponsor of the bill, criticized some of his fellow party members for wanting to“have it both ways” when it comes to immigration reform.

Immigration Reform Opponents Question Loopholes

In his position as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa pointed out that the immigration reform bill could contain loopholes that would put American workers at a disadvantage. He said that Senator Hatch’s immigration reform measure would “only increase the supply of cheaper foreign labor” and that it “doesn’t make sure that American workers are put before foreign workers.” Senator Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, claimed that the H-1B visa program has been targeted for a “huge degree” of abuse by overseas workers seeking to stay in the U.S.

Vulnerabilities of Immigration Reform Bill

Opponents of the immigration reform bill point to the case of electric utility provider Southern California Edison. They pointed out that the electric company laid off hundreds of American workers and outsourced their jobs to overseas workers. They claim that the company used the H-1B visas to hire overseas contract workers to fill in those qualified positions at much lower salaries than their American counterparts. Senators who oppose the immigration reform bill believe that an expansion of the program could encourage companies to engage in similar behavior, at the expense of American workers.

Source: The Hill

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