Bill For More Green Cards Per Year Introduced in U.S.

A legislation pushing for merit-based immigration and increasing the allotment of green cards by 45 per cent annually has been introduced in the House of Representatives in the United States. The legislation “would accomplish the President’s core priorities for the American people,” the White House said in a statement on Jan. 11.

The legislation, Securing America’s Future Act, if passed by Congress and signed into law by the U.S President Donald Trump, will put an end to the diversity visa program and curb the overall immigration levels, which is currently averaging 1.05 million to 260,000 a year.

The legislation seeks to increase the allotment of green cards from the current 120,000 to 175,000 per annum. Indian techies, who come to the country on H-1B visas and apply for green cards or legal permanent residence status, will be benefited from this proposal.

Nearly 500,000 Indians are estimated to be waiting for green cards and looking for annual extensions of their H-1B visas. The increase in the number of green cards annually is likely to reduce their wait period drastically.

However, the Securing America’s Future Act eliminates green card programs for relatives, other than spouses and minor children. Since it is a merit-based immigration system, the Trump administration would admit the “best and the brightest around the world” and reduce illegal immigration.

The legislation was introduced by House Homeland Security Committee Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee chairwoman Martha McSally, House Homeland Security Committee chairman Michael McCaul, House Judiciary Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte and House Judiciary Committee Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee chairman Raul Labrador, PTI reported.

“This bill offers common-sense solutions that will finally secure our borders, better support our frontline defenders, strengthen interior enforcement, and get tough on those who break our immigration laws. With this the president at the helm, we have the opportunity to provide the security and rule of law our founding fathers intended,” McCaul was quoted as saying.

“This carefully crafted legislation, which is aligned with the White Houses’ immigration priorities, combines enforcement measures and increased border security to enhance public safety, ensure the door remains open to law-abiding immigrants, and restore the rule of law,” said Goodlatte.