Key groups reach agreement on US immigration reform

March 15, 2013

Immigration is a controversial topic in the U.S. Business leaders worry about being able to find employees to fill open positions and would like the freedom to hire people from overseas. Labor union leaders fear that businesses choose to hire foreign workers over U.S. workers because foreign workers will accept less pay -- and U.S. workers are missing out on job opportunities. The differing sides tend to become even more entrenched in their viewpoints when the economy is underperforming as is has been in the U.S. since 2008. However, what both groups can agree on is that the current U.S. immigration system does not adequately meet the country's needs and requires reform. In February 2013, representatives from business and labor announced they had reached an agreement on a plan for immigration reform.

Three-point plan

The AFL-CIO and U.S Chamber of Commerce met for several months beginning in 2012 in closed-door talks to try to come to a consensus about what the immigration reform bill that Congress will try to create in 2013 should contain. Both groups agree that three main elements are key to any immigration reform plan that Congress drafts:
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents should have the first chance to fill jobs in the U.S.
- U.S. laws should not hinder business' abilities to easily hire foreign workers.
- The federal government should create a new bureau to track labor markets and demographics.

The agreement calls for a new type of visa that would not keep foreign workers in a temporary resident status permanently. Instead, the groups wanted to avoid mistakes of past immigration laws and create a way for foreign workers to petition for Green Cardsthemselves -- rather than relying on employers.

More work needed

A bipartisan group of eight senators has been working on creating a comprehensive immigration reform bill, which they hope to introduce in March 2013. The senators had been waiting to introduce the bill until the AFL-CIO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce concluded their discussions so they could see whether they wanted to incorporate any agreements the groups reached into the bill.

Speak with an attorney

Even though Congress is working on reforming U.S. immigration laws, such changes are slow in coming. Many employers and workers need help with navigating the byzantine U.S. immigration system now in order to fill jobs and make businesses productive. If you have questions about employment-based visas, speak with an attorney with a history of successfully helping people obtain documentation to work in the U.S.

Article provided by The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth
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