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Thursday, November 8, 2007
High tech companies cheer: Lawmakers drop fee hike for H-1B visas
High tech companies were cheering this week as House and Senate negotiators dropped an amendment that would have increased the fee for an H-1B visa for highly educated foreign workers to from $1,500 to $5,000.
“We are grateful that conferees recognized that the…amendment was a tax on America’s innovation economy, and was a counterproductive and punitive measure,” said Robert Hoffman, vice president for government and public affairs at Oracle and co-chair of Compete America, an industry coalition.
Hoffman also said in a statement: “U.S. companies strongly support the development of U.S. talent, but until the pipeline for native-born scientists and engineers meets demand, we must be able to attract and retain top talent from around the world.”
The dropped amendment was introduced by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and Bernard Sanders, I-Vt.
Grassley (pictured) is a vocal critic of the H-1B program.
The number of H-1B visas allowed by law has fluctuated in recent years in response to the U.S. economy and the highs and lows of the technology industry and is now set by Congress at 65,000. In addition, 20,000 more foreign citizens with advanced degrees from American universities are allowed to stay in work in the United States.
There are various proposals in Congress to increase the cap.
Critic say that the H-1B program depresses wages for American workers and has many flaws including limited enforcement mechanisms.
Democrats in Congress “agitated” over driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants
Democratic members of Congress are growing increasingly agitated over New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s plan to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and are calling for him to shelve the idea, the New York Times reported Thrursday.
The opposition is especially strong among Democrats bracing for the prospect of tough re-election battles next year in politically moderate and conservative regions of New York, the story said.
“It’s hugely unpopular,” Rep. Michael Arcuri, a first-term Democrat from central New York, told the Times. “I don’t think it would be wise to move forward with it at this point.”
To read more, click here.
Schwarzenegger moves to help Mexico in flooding disaster
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered to supply the Mexican government with emergency resources to deal with the recent flooding disaster.
In Tabasco, Mexico alone, nearly 500,000 people have been displaced from their homes, while 80 percent of the state is under water, according to a release from the governor’s office.
“Southern Mexico has been devastated by terrible flooding, ruining critical infrastructure and causing widespread human suffering,” said Schwarzenegger. “The people of Mexico offered their support and were very helpful in assisting us with our efforts to fight the California wildfires. My administration has taken action to provide any disaster assistance our neighboring country may need.”
As part of its initial efforts, the governor’s Office of Emergency Services will provide the Mexican government with inflatable rubber boats, outboard motors, repair kits for boats, propellers and propeller-guards, orrs and paddles, fuel tanks and bladders, dry suits, personal flotation devices, splash suits, boxes of latex gloves, sleeping bags, blankets and generators.
Schwarzenegger is also seeking White House support in allowing California Air National Guard aircraft to fly into Mexico to expedite future delivery of additional equipment and humanitarian aid. He also requested assistance from the Bush administration with diplomatic and customs clearance to deliver supplies.
Non-citizens voting in a few cities
Should non-citizens be allowed to vote? Officials in Takoma Park, Md. think so. The city, a liberal enclave near the nation’s capitol, is one of a few local jurisdictions that encourage non-citizens to vote. Since Takoma Park does not ask for proof of legal residence, it is conceivable that illegal immigrants were casting ballots this week.
In a few other small cities in Maryland, all residents are allowed to participate in local elections, regardless of citizenship status. Chicago allows non-citizens to vote in school board elections and New York City is considering a proposal to give voting rights to legal immigrants. New York City allowed non-citizens to vote in school board elections for more than three decades, until 2003.
In addition, the Massachusetts cities of Amherst, Cambridge, and Newton, have approved measures to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections, but the ordinances require approval of the state legislature which hasn’t acted yet.
About a dozen other cities, including Portland, Maine and Madison, Wis., are considering similar proposals, said Ron Hayduk, cofounder of the Immigrant Voting Project, a non-profit group that supports voting rights for non-citizens.
Voting by non-citizens has become a hot political topic since Democratic presidential frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York came out in favor of a proposal by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer to allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses.
Two of her GOP rivals — former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee — said that the plan could lead to fraud, with illegal immigrants casting ballots.
To read more, click here.
Immigration official nomination on hold after Halloween costume flap
A Halloween party where a Department of Homeland Security worker won praise for a costume of darkened skin and prison garb may stall Senate confirmation of the party’s host, CNN reported Wednesday.
Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said that she has placed a temporary “hold” on Julie Myers’ nomination for the job of assistant homeland security secretary for immigration and customs enforcement until Myers (pictured) answers questions about the party, including why photographs of her with the costumed employee were destroyed after questions were raised, CNN said.
“As the leader of that organization, she should have immediately recognized the problem and asked that person to leave,” said McCaskill.
ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel told CNN the photos were deleted because the costume was offensive and because officials feared the images would end up being used on ICE publications and Web sites.
The story was first reported by Suzanne Gamboa of the Associated Press. Myers apologized to employees last Friday in an e-mail,which was provided to AP.
“I and the senior management at ICE deeply regret that this happened,” Myers said. “As the head of the agency, I have the responsibility to ensure every employee is a valued member of the ICE team.”
To read more, click here.
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