Immigration reform bill draws mix response

WASHINGTON: The proposed US immigration reform bill has been generally hailed by leadership of both Republican and Democrat party but is evoking some reservations from a powerful section of the lawmakers.

The legislation, championed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, seeks to addresses issues of illegal immigration and increase the number of H1B visas by 50,000 annually, which would also benefit Indian professionals seeking jobs in the US.

One subject that is drawing attention is that of the guest worker programme which would allow some 400,000 immigrant workers to enter the country on a two year visa programme.

However as per the provision, they will have to return home and re-apply for visa after a period of one year. The visas could be renewed for up to three times as per the provisions.

Without specifically naming the H1B visa, Senator Charles Schummer of New York has said he was concerned about the lack of family unification specifics in the skilled worker visa programme.

"We do have to do something about immigration. If we do nothing -- there are now 12 million illegal aliens in the country. It will go to 20 million. Many companies and individuals who need specific people to create jobs from overseas won't be able to get them. So we have to do something. .. . The bill is a fair starting point" Schumer told Fox News on Sunday.

"I have two problems with it. One, while I certainly believe that immigration -- we need to bring in people who have skills, who the economy needs, we also need to take care of families so they can be unified. I think the bill is a little stinting on that," the New York Democrat said.

On the Guest Worker programme, Schummer said "The biggest objection I and many Democrats have, which could be a stumbling block to the whole bill, is this guest worker programme".

"Hundreds of thousands of people come in. There's virtually no protection. They're going to bring wage rates down, and after their time is up, they're probably going to stay in the country and become a new group of illegal immigrants," he said.

But his Republican colleague Senator Lindsey Graham disagreed stressing the guest worker programme is an integral part of the reform legislation.

"The guest worker programme is an important aspect of it. You cannot hire a guest worker until you advertise that no American will take the job and you have to advertise at a competitive wage. I think we have struck the right balance here. We're securing our borders. We're controlling who gets a job on our terms," Graham said.

"This is a probationary sentence for the 12 million (illegals). If they ever want to become a citizen, they've got to wait till everybody ahead of them goes through the line and they have to go back to their home country to apply," he said.

The Republican law maker who was instrumental in putting together the broader framework of the bill challenged his colleagues in the House and the Senate to not merely object to the proposed legislation but come up with workable alternatives.

"To my colleagues who want to make the bill better, you're welcome to come on the floor and let's work together. To my colleagues who come on the floor to tear this bill down with no alternative, you're not doing this country a service, and I will push back. If you've got a better idea, you can lead us to a better solution. I'm all for it," he said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who has said she will not take up the immigration issue unless the White House comes up with at least 70 Republican law makers in the House in support of it warned the Senate that it cannot use these numbers as a pretext of doing something that the Democrats cannot accept.

"We would like to have strong bipartisan support for whatever we do. We don't want the Senate to use the 60 or 70 in the House as an excuse to do something that Democrats can't support. So let's just say we want a bill that is comprehensive, that is bipartisan and that the president will sign," Pelosi said on ABC's 'This Week' programme.