WASHINGTON, DC: Hon Bruce Morrison (D-Conn) is planning to introduce a bill in the ‘Congress recommending nearly doubling the annual visa quota. Obviously frustrated Morrison told Mr. McNary, the INS chief that US law makers were concerned about the current backlog of visa applicants, which is more than 1.4 million at this moment.

The immediate relatives of the foreigners who have obtained permanent residence status will benefit from the proposed bill as Hon Morrison and his democratic colleagues have suggested giving them the same preference for visas as enjoyed by the relatives of newly naturalized citizens.

Last year Bush administration endorsed the major provision of a bill that Senate passed 81-17 allowing up to 630,000 visas a year 150,000 to skilled workers and’ 480,000 to close relatives of naturalized foreigners living legally in U.S.

However, Mr. McNary has strongly opposed the proposal as he felt that proposed additional increase of 150,000 visas a year, would severely tax the capabilities of Immigration and Naturalization Service, the State Department as well as state and county governments.”

Mr. McNary also felt that according to proposed bill as citizenship will not be required by legally admitted foreigners to sponsor their relatives, they will not apply for U.S. citizenship. Also he was concerned about bringing in people who he felt showed reluctance to be absorbed into American mainstream.

However, Rep Morrison has defended his proposed bill noting that INS chief’s concern was not based on any statistical evidence.

Last year Kennedy Simpson bill was originally introduced in the Senate designed to scrap provision for immigration based on family unification principal. The bill was proposed after strong lobbying by Irish and other European immigration groups who blamed that the existing immigration policy favored Asians and Hispanic communities as they are now likely to sponsor their relatives after they settle down in United States. Under the current system only 15 percent of legally admitted immigrants and European origin.

However, Kennedy Simpson bill met strong opposition from Asians and Hispanic groups. Ultimately preference for family based immigration was retained in the bill which was later on endorsed by Bush administration.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 30, 1990