Green Card Gridlock: A visa fix for children of H-1B workers at risk of deportation

America is widely known as the land of the free. Every American takes enormous pride in knowing they’re citizens of the freest country on Earth. 

Over the past centuries, tens of millions from every corner of the globe immigrated to America because they wanted the freedom Americans took for granted. By and large, immigrants and their families got their wish, within a few short years of living in America, they became US citizens and played a part in America’s destiny.

Today, millions continue to immigrate to the U.S. and one of the most popular ways is through the H1B visa, which is granted to highly skilled professionals. In 2023, over 4.41 lakh H1B visas were approved. 

Of these, 3.2 lakh were to Indians. However, due to political gridlock, the adult children of those who were granted H1B visas now risk self-deportation. These children are ‘ageing out’ since they’re turning 21 and are losing their status as dependents of H1B visa holders. Today, 250,000 children of legal immigrant’s risk deportation.

A study of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) found that over 12 lakh Indians, including dependents, are awaiting green cards in the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 visa categories.

America has a glorious centuries-long tradition of welcoming immigrants. Recently, however, immigration has become a pressing issue in America. According to some polls, it is the second biggest worry among Americans and about 17% of Americans said it was their top concern.

In June, a bipartisan group – including both Democrats and Republicans – of 43 lawmakers urged the Biden Administration to act to protect the more than 2.5 lakh adult children of legal immigrants - also known as ‘Documented Dreamers’ - from self-deportation. The campaign was led by Senator Alex Padella, the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Sub-Committee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety and by Deborah Ross. While Alex Padella and Deborah Ross are Democrats, the campaign to protect Documented Dreamers enjoys bipartisan support.

However, many Republicans and Democrats are against helping them. Republicans have twice voted down a bipartisan border security bill introduced earlier this year. Many Republicans are of the view that ‘not a single immigrant should become a US citizen under any circumstance’. 

While this belief is largely driven by concern about the porous border in America’s south, children of Indian parents who came to the US on H1B visas are affected. Some Republicans have stated that Congress was unlikely to take up the cause of Dreamers any time soon.

For many children of Indian immigrants, this political gridlock keeps them from living in the country they love and call home. They’ve grown up in the US with the status of legal immigrants, completed their education in the US school system, and graduated with degrees from American colleges and universities.

Lawmakers have made three recommendations to help Documented Dreamers.

Source : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/green-card-gridlock-a-visa-fix-for-children-of-h-1b-workers-at-risk-of-deportation/articleshow/112858878.cms