In today's highly politicized legal climate relating to immigration laws, families are caught up in a whirlwind of speculation and controversy over proposed changes to our immigration laws.  The uncertainty that families face is extremely stressful, as the possibility of deportation looms and employment is uncertain.  So far, Congress has not approved any legislation for the President to sign, as polical wrangling continues.  Numerous proposals are on the table, with varying mechanisms for correcting some of the broken parts of our immigration system.  Today's blog will summarize the various legislation that has been proposed over the past several months.  

Reuniting Families Act

This proposal would reduce the backlog of family-based immigrant visa petitions, and provide other updates to the family-based immigration system.

Uniting and Securing America Act

This proposal would increase border security, protect DACA recipients from deportation, speed up immigration court cases and limit immigration from Central America.

Security, Enforcement, and Compassion United in Reform Efforts Act, a/k/a "SECURE ACT"

This proposal would improve border security, increase enforcement of immigration laws, and provide DACA recipients with employment authorization and relief from deportation.

Uniting and Securing America Act

This proposal provides for permanent resident status for DACA recipients, improvement of border security, and reduction of processing times in immigration court proceedings.

Securing America's Future Act

This proposal eliminates the Diversity Lottery Program, limits the categories of available family-based immigrant visas and provides DACA recipients with temporary legal status.

Immigration Innovation Act, a/k/a "I-Squared Act"

This proposal focuses on employment-based immigration.  Specifically, it proposes increasing the annual number of H1B visas, allowing employment for spouses of H1B visa holders, eliminating the per-country cap on employment-based visasa and providing for dual-intent for student visas.

American Promise Act

This proposal would provide recipients of Temporary Protected Status ("TPS") who have resided in the U.S. for at least 3 years, to apply for permanent resident status.

ASPIRE-TPS Act

This proposal allows TPS recipients to continue TPS status for renewable 6 year periods and permits adjustment of status to permanent resident in cases of extreme hardship.

Small and Seasonal Business Relief Act

This proposal would reinstated the returning worker exemption for H2B visa holders.

Various additional proposals have been advanced, and Congress continues to debate the many issues of immigration reform.  Foreign-born nationals in the United States, as well as those outside the United States who desire to come to the United States, should pay very close attention to these proposals.  Christiansen Law Firm has had extensive experience obtaining immigrant visas and various types of non-immigrant visas, for foreign nationals.  Contact the immigration attorneys of Christiansen Law Firm to obtain additional information.