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House Republicans Support Smith’s STEM Bill
National Journal September 18, 2012 A group of House members introduced legislation on Tuesday that would make it easier for foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math to stay in the United States. House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, introduced the bill along with 47 House […]
Read MoreImmigration Reform News and Impact on US Homeland Security
Right Side News September 18, 2012 House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) announced Friday he plans on introducing legislation this week that would eliminate the visa lottery green card program and reallocate its 55,000 annual visa allotment to foreign graduates of U.S. universities with PhDs and Master’s degrees in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and […]
Read MoreSchumer to introduce own STEM visa bill
Computerworld September 17, 2012 U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who is chair of the Senate’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee, is introducing his own STEM visa bill to challenge a similar Republican bill in the House. Schumer’s bill, which is expected to be announced Tuesday, will provide 55,000 green cards for foreign students who […]
Read MoreAs Chicago Passes Anti-Detainer Ordinance, TRUST Act Awaits Signature in California
Lost amongst media coverage of the ongoing teachers’ strike was the passage in Chicago last week of a historic measure that largely prohibits local police from detaining individuals on behalf of federal immigration authorities. Dubbed the “Welcoming City Ordinance,” the measure makes Chicago the latest jurisdiction to push back against immigration “detainers,” the lynchpin of […]
Read MoreRepublicans Work to Expand Visas for Foreign Tech Grads
Politico September 16, 2012 GOP leaders are readying a bill by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) that would steer more visas to foreign graduates of U.S. universities — and laying the groundwork for a floor vote this week by urging the sector to help them push for passage. The bill would eliminate the diversity visa lottery […]
Read MoreNo Paid Sick Days for Immigrant Caregivers Risky to Workers, U.S. Economy
By Elisa Batista, Women Immigrants Fellow, New America Media. In 91-year-old Elda Frank’s apartment is a scenario that plays out every moment of every day. An immigrant caregiver with no paid sick days scrambles for backup when she becomes ill on the job. In caregiver Paula Osorio’s case, she called Frank’s son, Bruce, and offered […]
Read MoreCitizenship Day 2012: Realizing the Potential of the Immigrant Vote
For many aspiring immigrants, achieving citizenship means full participation in civic life—and that means the right to vote. Every year, thousands of immigrants become naturalized U.S. citizens and exercise their new right. In the 2010 national elections, naturalized citizens comprised 6.4% of all voters. The voter registration rate among immigrants as a whole has risen since 2000. Just as importantly, a growing number of U.S.-born children of immigrants are now coming of age and becoming voters.
However, the full potential of the immigrant vote has not been reached. There are more than eight million legal immigrants in the United States who are eligible to naturalize but have not yet done so. The latent electoral power of these voters-in-waiting is enormous. In many parts of the country their votes could potentially swing elections. As described in a series of Immigration Impact blog posts by Rob Paral, there are numerous counties across the country where the number of Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) who have arrived since 1985 exceeds the margin of victory in the Obama-McCain election. Moreover, the voter rolls of many counties would grow dramatically if LPRs who are eligible to naturalize actually did so and registered to vote. Although this could not happen in time for the 2012 election cycle, it could make a difference in future elections. In many U.S. counties, the number of Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) who have arrived since 1985 exceeds the Obama-McCain margin of victory.
Republicans Ready ‘STEM Jobs Act’
Computerworld US September 14, 2012 WASHINGTON – The U.S. House is moving closer to acting on legislation that makes green cards available to as many as 55,000 foreign nationals who have earned an advanced degree in a science, technology, engineering or math, the so-called STEM fields. U.S. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who as head of the […]
Read MoreImmigrant Integration is a Two-Way Street
The process by which immigrants integrate into the economic and social fabric of the United States is very much a two-way street. Naturally, immigrants must harbor the desire to climb the socioeconomic ladder of success. But there must be a ladder for them to climb. If the community within which immigrants live and work makes […]
Read MorePress Release: More Than 150 University Presidents and Chancellors From All 50 States Sign Letter to the President and Congress Supporting Visa Reform
University presidents and chancellors with a combined student body of over 4 million students and a total endowment of over $240 billion support visa reform Today, 165 chancellors and presidents of American universities sent a letter to President Barack Obama and to all members of Congress urging members of both parties to find a bipartisan […]
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