Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ At a groundbreaking ‘Tech Immigration Summit’ held at the US Capitol, prominent lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties have joined forces to address the critical issue of the Green Card backlog, particularly affecting Indian professionals, and the challenges surrounding H-1B visas.
The summit, convened by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora (FIIDS), marks a pivotal moment in the push for immigration reform, with lawmakers advocating for the removal of the seven percent country quota system for Green Card issuance. This quota system, if left unchanged, threatens to prolong the Green Card waiting period for Indian immigrants to over 20 years and, in many cases, beyond 70 years.
Congressman Ro Khanna, co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus, emphasized the vital role immigrants play in driving innovation and economic growth in the United States. Khanna called for the elimination of country caps, citing the detrimental impact on both American workers and immigrant families.
Echoing Khanna’s sentiments, Congressman Eric Swalwell emphasized the urgency of fixing the broken immigration system, which has far-reaching implications for addressing key national challenges, from healthcare to environmental sustainability.
Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar underscored the importance of legal immigration in bolstering the US economy, stressing the need to retain skilled professionals within the country to spur innovation and job creation.
Khanderao Kand from FIIDS highlighted the significant contributions of technology immigrants to American industries, emphasizing the need for policy changes to address the backlog and promote a more inclusive immigration system.
The summit also featured testimonies from impacted individuals, including those awaiting Green Cards and Dreamers, as well as technology entrepreneurs advocating for reform.
With bipartisan support and expert insights, the Tech Immigration Summit signals a united effort to push for legislative changes that will streamline the immigration process, unlock the potential of skilled professionals, and foster continued innovation and economic prosperity in the United States.
