The central problem with @SenMikeLee's HR1044 w/ Lee Amendments is that it creates an immigration pathway for just ONE country's citizens - India, while creating huge wait times for others. Indians currently receive the greatest % of EB Green Cards each year than others.
The underlying issue that created the backlog for citizens from one country is the direct monopolization of the H-1B system to funnel cheap labor from India, & the dual-intent clause added in the Immigration Act of 1990 that allowed H-1B workers to stay permanently.
Instead of fixing the problems that created this mess, @SenMikeLee exacerbates the problem even further. He added an amendment called 'Early-Filing' that allows essentially ANY foreign worker (including OPT students) to bypass H-1B visa program entirely & get EAD cards.
So @SenMikeLee tries to gaslight people into believing his bill doesn't create any additional Green Cards, what he hides is that his bill creates a silent pipeline of foreign workers that will come in through the Early-Filing channel & be handed EAD cards-- MORE IMMIGRATION!
The Early-Filing clause would create a Black Market:
H-1B worker working for Company A who used deceptive means to get the visa in the first place, would now be willing to pay a Company B to petition him for an employment GC because of the Early-Filing. He/She wants that EAD.
H-1B worker working for Company A who used deceptive means to get the visa in the first place, would now be willing to pay a Company B to petition him for an employment GC because of the Early-Filing. He/She wants that EAD.
Not only would the H-1B qualify for an EAD, but so would the spouse and children. If Early-Filing provides those lucrative incentives, imagine what steps foreign workers would be willing to take in order to get those EADs? It would create an UNLIMITED immigration channel.
In closing, @SenMikeLee is NOT interested in fixing the immigration system. This is purely a profit play to please the Big Tech cronies that want to depress wages for Tech jobs & who donate to his campaign. HR1044/S386 is a terrible bill & should be thrown out.
