Immigration
Policy Priorities for 2012
Immigration Reform
- Continue pursuing immigration reform to better secure our borders; improve electronic employment verification systems for determining whether an employee is authorized to work in the United States; create an effective and streamlined future flow program so that employers can hire immigrant workers when U.S. workers are not available; and provide, under certain strict qualification criteria, a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers currently in the United States.
- Strongly oppose bills that cripple the current non-immigrant worker visa systems and fail to include a mechanism to ensure businesses a future flow of workers to fill jobs when Americans are not available. Oppose legislation that imposes unworkable and inconsistent electronic employment verification systems.
High-Skilled Immigration
- Advocate for continuing and expanding both temporary and permanent visa programs for highly skilled workers (including L-1 and H-1B and EB green cards) to ensure that employers are able to compete for global talent to remain competitive, including creating a new STEM green card category.
Essential Workers
- Secure additional essential workers to counteract demographic trends, provide for targeted earned legalization of those essential undocumented workers already here, and expand existing temporary immigration programs, such as the H-2A and H-2B visa programs.
- Make certain that any immigration reform package contains strong language ensuring a future flow program so that U.S. companies will be able to hire legal immigrant workers in a timely fashion.
Electronic Employment Verification System
- Work with Congress on implementing an electronic employment verification system that preempts state laws, includes limited subcontractor liability, covers only new hires, and includes a phased-in timeline to address the needs of small businesses, among other “good actor” provisions.
Travel, Tourism, and Border Issues
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Urge Congress and the administration to address delays, backlogs, and disruptions in our immigration and border management systems that impede the movement of legitimate businesses and tourists traveling across U.S. borders.
Related Links
- Education and Workforce Development
- Education and Workforce Development
- June 14 Letter to extend the VWP biomtric deadline
- Margaret Spellings
- Multi Industry Coalition Letter (House) - Retaining U.S.-Educated Stem Students - Immigration Reform Principles
- Comments on E-Verify Self Check Program
- May 25- Key Vote Letter on Immigration s.2611
- Letter Supporting the Johanns Amendment and Opposing the Nelson Amendment to H.R. 5297, the "Small Business Jobs Act of 2010"