(fwd) URGENT!!! Work Visas Threatened (fwd)
Chuan Wang (chuan@LSIL.COM)
Wed, 19 Jul 1995 15:32:15 -0700
Forwarded message:
> >
> > From: Jan Pederson
> > Attorny
> > Member, Board of Governors
> > American Immigration Lawyers Association
> > EMAIL: JANPED@ix.netcom.com
> >
> > SUB: WORK VISAS THREATENED--- H.R. 1915
> >
> > Attention all netters! Immediate action needed by everyone to save
> > immigration! H.R. 1915, an immigration reform bill is on a fast track to
> > become law. This bill was introduced in the House on 6/21/95. On 7/13,
> > the House Immigration Subcommittee marked up and will continue beginning
> > a 6 p.m. Monday night. The sponsor is Lamar Smith (Republican from
> > wealthy white part of San Antonio area). They are trying to fast track
> > this bill before anyone knows it exists. If you, your employers,
> > friends, relatives do not pressure Congress, most of you will not be in
> > America. The bill purports to impose harsher penalties on "illegal"
> > immigration. So your average congressional staffer doesn't read the 300
> > page bill and tells his boss to vote for it. Well, the illegal
> > provisions are bad enough. E.G. If you are out of status in the U.S.
> > for one year, you cannot return for 10, yes, 10 years. No exceptions.
> > You all can get the bill and read the illegal parts.
> >
> > However, more of a threat are the hidden abolition of employment
> > immigration. Just a few highlights should scare you all into action:
> >
> > *Many new restrictions on H-1B, making it ever more unattractive to
> > employers. The movement to abolish H-1B is at the moment being led by
> > John Bryant (Democrat from Dallas who thinks there should be no foreign
> > workers on US soil.--This guy is very dangerous and needs to hear from
> > H-1b employers, etc., particularly in Dallas. Of course he is pro labor
> > union bbut powerful employers who vow this will be his last term in
> > Congress can make a difference. All employers/workers, etc. need to
> > call, write and e-mail him immediately.) As the bill is still in the
> > Immigration Subcommittee markup the contours of the proposed damage to
> > H-1B visas is still up for grabs.
> >
> > *No more green cards for aliens of extraordinary ability..
> >
> > *No more green cards for "outstanding professors and researchers".
> >
> > *No more green cards for "national interest" workers.
> >
> > *No green cards for professionals with less than five years experience.
> >
> > *No green cards for skilled workers with less than seven years experience.
> >
> > *And if you should somehow still qualify for an employment based visa
> > after all this, the wait will be very long. The bill proposes to reduce
> > the number of employment based green cards from 140,000 per year to
> > 100,000 per year. Doesn't sound bad, right? Wrong. From the 100,000
> > visas will be deducted the number of visas necessary to satisfy excess
> > demand in the family categories. Thus, there could easily be only a few
> > thousand of these visas per year.
> >
> > *Last but not least, if any of you has been out of status, inadvertently,
> > for even a day, you would be prohibited from obtaining a non-immigrant
> > visa anywhere but in your home country. No more CJ for you. You will be
> > sent abroad where you all know you are in the cluthes of consular
> > officers with unlimited power. (BTW, I still do not know where this
> > provision came from!!! The State Department did not have anything to do
> > with it and did not even know it was in the bill!
> >
> > Please note that the above is only a brief, brief summary. And of
> > course, the bill can be amended any number of times in the Subcommittee
> > markup, the Judiciary Committee Markup and on the floor of the House. In
> > other words, it could get worse!!!
> >
> > Only you netters can stop the anti-immigrant railroad. Drop everything
> > and act now!!! Please remember that every letter and phone call to a
> > Congressman or Senator counts. Those who are sympathetic in the Congress
> > say they don't get any pro-immigrant mail. So get them some.
> >
> > Also, please note that Senator Alan Simpson, the enemy of anyone with
> > foreign blood, has introduced a restrictionist bill in the Senate.
> >
> > Thus, your efforts should be a blitz on the House and on the Senate.
> >
> > Do not be shy about this. It is your future and your children's future
> > at stake. We are told the Bill H.R. 1915 will pass. Only you can make
> > a difference. Anyokne can call or write a Congressman.
> >
> > When calling/writing suggest you emphasize the following:
> >
> > * This bill would cut off the access of America to the best and the
> > brightest scientists, engineers, investors and businessmen and America
> > will lose these people to one of our competitors in the global economy,
> > ensuring American will falter in global competitiveness.
> >
> > *H-1B workers and employment based immigrants don't take jobs from
> > qualified American workers. If fact, they create jobs for Americans.
> > (you computer gurus can complete details on this item. Show how your
> > employment creates jobs for Americans).
> >
> > *H-1B workers are a miniscule and insignificant part of the American
> > professional work force (don't know exact per cent, but something around
> > 1% of workers?) Hardly a numerical threat.
> >
> > *Insist that more thought and deliberation be given to this legislation
> > affecting all Americans. The idea here is to delay the process while
> > members of Congress read the law and listen to constituents before acting.
> >
> > Add your own ideas. Of course throw in the inhumanity of the
> > restrictions on both employment and family immigration. However,
> > Congressmen and Senators not too likely to be swayed by such.
> >
> > It is critical that you get employers, friends, relatives and any ethnic
> > organizations to call and write immediately.
> >
> >
> > NOW, WHO TO CALL AND WRITE.
> >
> > 1. Your own Congressmen and Senators, whether or not on the House or
> > Senate Judiciary Commitee.
> >
> > 2. Lamar Smith, (R) San Antonio--represents wealthy, affluent area.
> > Main employer is medical equipment company. He is a Christian
> > Scientist. He is a lawyer and graduate of Yale. Very smooth and very
> > much a gentleman. He is Chairman of the House Immigration Subcommittee.
> >
> > 3. John Bryant (D) Dallas. The worst enemy of foreign workers. Hey,
> > you netters. Don't some of you live or work in Dallas. How about
> > university professors/researchers in Dallas. Call and write to him. His
> > immigration legislative counsel is Mr. Slover.
> >
> > 4. Mr. Gallegley (R) Simi Valley, CA. Very anti-immigrant. You will
> > remember that Simi Valley is where the first Rodney King trial was held
> > and the policeman were acquited of the beating. White and conservative
> > I would guess.
> >
> > 5. Carlos Moorhead (R) Los Angeles. Is Hispanic and seems okay.
> >
> >
> > 6. Ed Bryant (R) Tennessee. Don't know about him.
> >
> > 7. Xavier Becerra (D) Los Angeles. Great guy. Sympathetic.
> >
> > 8. Bill McCollum (R) Florida. Anti-immigrant.
> >
> > 9. Howard Berman (D) California. One of the few friends of immigrants.
> > Great guy.
> >
> > 10. Barney Frank (D) Massachusetts. Brilliant and one of the few
> > friends of immigrants.
> >
> > 11. Fred Heineman.
> >
> > Above are most members of the Immigration Subcommittee which will
> > continue markup on the Bill on 7/17.
> >
> > Please get a complete list from Library or Call the Switchboard at
> > Congress and ask the names of all members of Immigration Subcommittee and
> > the Judiciary Committee.
> >
> >
> > Henry Hyde (R) from Illinois is Chairman of the House Judiciary
> > Committeee and very powerful. Everyone should write him. He is
> > supported by Catholic Church and other reactionary forces.
> >
> > Again be sure to call and write all members of both House and Senate
> > Immigration Subcommittees and Judiciary Committees.
> >
> > I will post a complete list tomorrow on the net. Also, if you have
> > access to Congressional Yellow Pages or American Political Almanac you
> > can locate this information and also biographic information.
> >
> > Again, to save yourselves, act now. It woud be a good idea if all
> > netters could post a note advising action taken under "KILL BILL" word
> > summary oln this board, we can all get an idea of what others are doing
> > to help.
> >
> > Perhaps the only ethnic group to which Republicans will respond are
> > East Asians cuz they vote Republican they think. So the Asians should
> > get their communities going too.
> >
> > I did not begin to summarize the new restrictions on family immigration.
> > No visas for siblings of American citizens and greatly restricts visas
> > for parents of American citizens. This should be opposed, of course.
> > But note that to sweeten the deal, the bill provides initially for extra
> > visas for some family categories to reduce backlog, then the number of
> > visas will be cut. Also, no more visas for children over 21 under
> > spnsorship of parents
> >
> > I hope everyone will act quickly.
> >
> > Also, if anyone wants to set up a chat on the net this weekend, please
> > leave me a note and tell me time, site and how to get to site. Would
> > like to chat 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 7/16 if anyone interested. Again, if
> > someone would call me and tell me how to set up chat on Net, I will be
> > happy to host. My number is 202-785-1960, ext. 1001(phone and voice mail).
> >
> >
> > Jan Pederson
> > Attorney
> > Member, Board of Governors
> > American Immigration Lawyers Association
> >
> > Phone and Voice Mail: 202-785-1960, ext. 1001.
> >
>