Tancredo's Bill "Not Likely to Succeed"

Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 6:40 PM

JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

www.ZaZona.com

Sheela Murthy's interest in furthering H-1B is obvious - she is an
immigration lawyer that makes big money by processing visas. A better
name for her would be: Shilla Murthy

http://murthy.com/ukeffort.html

Efforts to Eliminate the H1B Program Not Likely to Succeed

We at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. wish to address a growing
concern in the immigrant community. Representative Thomas Tancredo's
newest bill, H.R. 2688, introduced on July 9, 2003, seeks to eliminate
the H1B program. It is highly unlikely that this bill will ever gather
enough support to become law. Each year, many anti-immigration bills
are introduced, but with a pro-Republican Congress, sensitive to the
needs of businesses, and a President who wishes to maintain a strong
and friendly relationship with Mexico, such bills are not likely to
succeed, except in spreading anxiety and churning the rumor mill at the
speed of the Internet!

History of H.R. 2688

Last year, Representative Tancredo introduced H.R. 3222, a bill that
would have permanently capped the H1B program at 65,000 and provided
for a reduction in H1Bs available whenever the U.S. unemployment rate
exceeded 6 percent. This measure did not obtain any co-sponsors and
never passed out of the subcommittee to which it was assigned.

Another bill, H.R. 946, was introduced earlier in the session. Its
purpose is to affect a moratorium on immigration, including significant
reductions in employment- and family-based immigration. Though H.R. 946
has 9 cosponsors, it has yet to pass out of committee, and many feel it
will not do so.

Current Administration

The Bush Administration has repeatedly stated that it values the
benefits brought to the U.S. by immigrants, and does not appear to
share Representative Tancredo's misinformed views on immigration.
Therefore, even if the bill were to somehow pass both the House and
Senate, it is very unlikely that President Bush would sign it into law.
If he vetoes the bill, Congress would have to override the President
with a 2/3 vote. Far more than 1/3 of the members of Congress
understand the benefits of immigration and would be unwilling to pass
restrictionist measures such as H.R. 2688 or H.R. 946.

Conclusion

Though the restrictionist measures Representative Tancredo introduces
are frightening to contemplate, it is the democratic process of our
nation in action that no single member of Congress can simply will a
bill into law. The U.S. is, after all, a nation of immigrants.

It is important that people, who strongly feel that such extreme bills
should never be introduced, contact their Congressional representatives
and lobby for the introduction of reasonable and favorable bills, such
as earned adjustment, greater resources for BCIS, family unification,
expanding the V visa eligibility for spouses of all permanent
residents, and programs to attract foreign nurses and ease the critical
U.S. shortage.

In addition to visiting our Legislation page, MurthyBulletin and
MurthyDotCom readers can visit the AILA WebSite and click on the
"Contact Congress / Media Center" link to find out what major
immigration issues are afoot. Successful lobbying not only requires
action against bills such as H.R. 2688, but also action in support of
favorable legislation. By involving ourselves in the political process
in this way, we embrace our role among leaders in the global community,
attained through the dreams and hard work of all our citizens, whether
American by birth or by choice.

) The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C.

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Rob Sanchez is board member of NAEA - www.NAEA.US

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