After the votes were counted in the US last November, immigration reform became a hot issue in Washington. That one of the top items on Mexico's agenda in the bilateral relationship is center stage in American politics has everything to do with American politics.
The "Group of 8" (four Republican and four Democratic Senators) are thrashing out a legislative proposal that stands a chance of passage. According to today's Washington Post, the "8" are discussing redistributing visas: fewer family members would receive priority so that more visas could go to qualified workers. The Migration Policy Institute says that about 65% of legal immigrants are admitted for family reasons. Only 14% of legal immigrants are admitted for employment.
The discussion is centering on who should qualify as "family" for visa purposes. Presently, spouses and minor children have first priority. Unmarried children older than 21 are next, followed by married adult children and siblings. An idea being floated is to eliminate the latter two categories, which would free up about 90,000 visas a year. Those visas could go instead to qualified workers. Married adult children and siblings could still apply for a visa but they would need other qualifications (such as highly technical skills) to get a green card.
The "Group of 8" (four Republican and four Democratic Senators) are thrashing out a legislative proposal that stands a chance of passage. According to today's Washington Post, the "8" are discussing redistributing visas: fewer family members would receive priority so that more visas could go to qualified workers. The Migration Policy Institute says that about 65% of legal immigrants are admitted for family reasons. Only 14% of legal immigrants are admitted for employment.
The discussion is centering on who should qualify as "family" for visa purposes. Presently, spouses and minor children have first priority. Unmarried children older than 21 are next, followed by married adult children and siblings. An idea being floated is to eliminate the latter two categories, which would free up about 90,000 visas a year. Those visas could go instead to qualified workers. Married adult children and siblings could still apply for a visa but they would need other qualifications (such as highly technical skills) to get a green card.
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