LAST Wednesday, I wrote about the plan being discussed in the Senate to decrease the number of family visas to give priority to employment-based petitions, specifically for highly-skilled workers.
Although there is no final proposal yet, the petitions that may likely be eliminated are those by US citizens on behalf of adult, married children and the petitioners’ brothers and sisters.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is part of a bipartisan Senate group negotiating the immigration bill, said the aim is to reform the immigration system so it has a “much clearer economic focus.”
Explaining the rationale of this proposal, Sen. Graham said: “Green cards should be reserved for the nuclear family. Green cards are economic engines for the country. This is not a family court we’re dealing with here. We’re dealing about an economic need.”
As the Associated Press reported, unlike most other industrialized nations, the United States awards a much larger proportion of green cards to family members of US citizens and permanent residents than to foreigners with job prospects here.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, about two-thirds of permanent legal immigration to the United States is family-based, compared with about 15 percent that is employment-based. The remainder is largely humanitarian.
Balitang America’s Pinoy Panawagan Legal Counsel Atty. Lou Tancinco strongly opposed this plan.
“The real solution to backlog in both family and employment categories is for visa numbers to be increased across the board, instead of reallocating from one category to the other.”
“The family is undeniably the source of immigrant strength and vitality. When there is a strong family unit and support, immigrants thrive better resulting in significant social and economic benefits. Family members also bring skills and resources. They build businesses and become successful entrepreneurs,” Atty. Tancinco argued.
“If the goal is to attract the best and brightest, making it difficult for relatives to immigrate may produce the opposite effect. Highly skilled and talented individuals may be reluctant to apply for visas to go to the US if other family members will not be able to join them.”
Despite the high value Filipinos give to family unity, a majority of the viewers of The Filipino Channel’s (TFC) newscast Balitang America seem to be in agreement with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s position.
We asked our viewers via our daily online poll, Isyu Ngayon: “Should family based immigration petitions be limited only to spouses and unmarried minor children?”
A big majority (63 percent) of those who voted said yes. They agree that family petition for married children and siblings of US citizens should be eliminated.
When we asked: “Should skilled workers be prioritized over family members in immigration reform?,” 54 percent favored skilled workers to help rebuild the US economy.
As the immigration debate heats up and news about such proposals (like the one discussed above) come up, Filipinos have been trying to secure their citizenship and current benefits for US citizens.
As our Balitang America Los Angeles Correspondent reported, hundreds came to a citizenship workshop hosted by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), in conjunction with the city of Los Angeles and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Among them was kababayan Val Cuenca. He waited 23 years to come to the United States. He eventually entered on a sibling visa.
Now that he’s been in the US long enough to qualify for American citizenship, he doesn’t want to take any chances with immigration reform bill.
“I lost hope during that time, because for almost 20 years, I was waiting…Now that I’m here I don’t want to make a delay for the application of my siblings, and my second wife, and four children from my first wife,” Cuenca toldBalitang America.
Our readers, who were vocal about their opinion on this issue, shared their comments as well. Here are some of their comments:
“Sad news for many Filipinos dreaming of joining their family in the US.” – Lida Bacamante Mauricio
“If America wants to grow their workforce and benefit from the good culture of hardworking, God-loving and honest Filipinos, they must screen the petitions on a case-to-case basis. We have so many high potential Filipinos and achievers, likewise. They must be given the opportunity to join their family members in the US. If they want to decongest the population, they can repatriate the offenders and felons. And replace the slots with the good and deserving ones.”- Grace D. Rallos
“I agree with the Senators’ plan. What made me sick the most [is that] upon their arrival they expect US to provide them all kind of assistance: from collecting welfare, SSI benefits, free health insurance violating Immigration Law re: affidavit of support. – Marilyn Patacsil
“YES! Pinoys should no longer rely on “going to America.” We must find a way to live decently in our own country..it is possible!” – Villamor Bon
“Ang gustong gawin ng Amerika ay katulad ng ginagawang immigrant preferences sa Canada, Australia, at New Zealand. Ito ay pagbibigay ng maraming visa sa mga magtratrabaho at babawasan sa mga nagpepetisyon sa kanilang anak na may pamilya at mga kapatid. Ang hangarin ng Amerika ay makakuha kaagad ng buwis sa mga manggagawa na may siguradong trabaho. Kung masyadong malawig ang mga petisyon na aabot sa mga matatandang anak at mga kapatid, ang mga ito ay walang siguradong trabaho kapag dumating sa Amerika at hindi agarang mabubuwisan. At ang isa pa ay nililimitahan din ang dumarating sa Amerika at ang gusto nila ay ang mga manggagawang kailangan nila.” – Amiel Brillantes
* * *
Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
