Prospects for Green Card Backlog Relief Remain Slim, Senators Say
Plus, Mike Lee tells us EAGLE Act likely won't be back due to "complicating factors"
WASHINGTON—The future of relief for the green card backlog remains clouded by political complexities and differing priorities, according to recent discussions with senators from both parties. The backlog, primarily affecting Indian and Chinese migrants, has been a significant issue for years, with hundreds of thousands stuck in wait times for both family and employment-based visas.
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A 2022 attempt to address this with the controversial EAGLE Act, which aimed to eliminate per-country caps without increasing the total number of green cards, failed to become law, as noted by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT). "It's an issue that's gotta be fixed," Lee said, acknowledging the political complications that have arisen since the act's last push: “I do think we gotta get it done, but I don’t know that it could take exactly same form as the the bill that passed in 2020 because of a number of complicating factors.”
Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) expressed cautious optimism for bipartisan action, suggesting that relief efforts are "non-partisan" and necessary. "It takes people that are kind of marginalized and basically a cost to our country, and makes them earners and does it legally," Hickenlooper stated, emphasizing the potential for economic benefits. However, he also noted the current political climate might necessitate a slow, careful approach to garner the needed majority support.
Senator Kevin Kramer (R-ND) prioritized addressing illegal immigration before focusing on legal immigration reforms like green card backlog relief, a position long-echoed by his Senate GOP colleagues. Kramer advocated for a policy that aligns legal immigration more closely with workforce needs, commenting, "We have a million plus legal immigrants in here. Very few of them come because they have a skillset that is in high demand," he said, falsely.
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Despite these insights, the prospect of increasing the number of green cards was dismissed by Lee as "likely a non-starter, politically." The focus instead seems to be on restructuring the allocation process rather than expanding the total number of visas available. The green card backlog has been particularly burdensome for applicants from India and China due to per-country caps, leading to waits that can span decades. According to recent data, these two nationalities make up the majority of those in the backlog, highlighting the urgency and complexity of the issue.
As the debate continues, the senators' comments reflect a landscape where the desire for reform meets significant legislative challenges. With no immediate solution in sight, the outcome for those in the backlog remains uncertain, dependent on the political will to navigate through current partisan divides and legislative hurdles.