Correspondence and commentary on current events.
You now have control of Congress. However, 20% of low-wage workers are unemployed.
Democratic officials have stated that immigration reform will be an upcoming priority, and I encourage you to ensure these reforms protect low- and middle-income working families and vulnerable populations.
Continue readingWe need a pro-worker immigration policy
Ask Biden to reopen OPT compliance unit!
The Optional Practical Training (OPT) program gives businesses a financial incentive to hire foreign college graduates instead of American and legal immigrant graduates. Employers do not have to pay payroll taxes and the OPT employees do not have to pay FICA withholding, making these employees significantly less expensive to hire. The OPT program is responsible for the inability of most American STEM graduates to find jobs in STEM fields — fewer than 50% of STEM graduates are finding STEM jobs. Moreover, the FICA fund loses out on $2 billion each year due to OPT and CPT.
Continue readingOppose closure of OPT Compliance Unit
Abolish birthright citizenship!
Often lost in the immigration debate is the issue of Birthright Citizenship. Birthright Citizenship is an outdated practice that lures foreign nationals to the United States so their unborn children can become U.S. citizens. Please work to end this ridiculous policy!
Continue readingAbolish birthright citizenship
As we reflect on MLK’s life, it’s important to also acknowledge A. Philip Randolph, who was the lead organizer of the 1963 March on Washington which included Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic I have a dream
speech. Randolph had a long history of advocating for immigration restrictions so as to advance the economic interests of Black Americans.
Immigration restrictions support the message from Civil Rights movement
President Biden is planning to make immigration reform a priority during his administration. When considering immigration legislation, Congress must not approve any immigration increases while millions of American and legal immigrant workers are out of work or working reduced hours due to COVID-19. Workers are already struggling and shouldn’t face increased competition for jobs.
Continue readingImmigration reform must benefit Americans and legal immigrants!
Make sure the omnibus spending bill doesn’t increase H-2B visas!
I cannot understand why some of your colleagues are pushing for H-2B visa increases in the upcoming omnibus spending bill. American workers are still devastated by the pandemic and the situation will only get worse this winter. Increasing the number of H-2B foreign workers will only make it more difficult for Americans to get back to work.
Increasing H-2B visa numbers will only keep more Americans unemployed and outside the workforce. Because H-2B visa holders tend to take unskilled jobs, these visas harm less-educated and lower-skilled Americans the most. Worse still, these impacted Americans are disproportionately Black and Hispanic Americans.
Further unfairly impacted by the pandemic, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Americans with a high school education or less have been hit the hardest, and increasing H-2B numbers will only escalate the burden. Please ensure the omnibus spending bill doesn’t raise the H-2B cap or authorize DHS to raise the cap.
Greg Raven, Apple Valley, CA