Rhetoric
Skilled migrants welcome — April Fools’!
Today, the U.S. government will begin to accept applications for the skilled H-1B guest-worker visa. H-1Bs are employer-sponsored visas that run for three years and can be renewed once. In recent years, applications for the H-1B have been filled in a few days as there are only 85,000 available for… Read More
Kenlee Hess: Immigrants improve American economy
For many years, immigration has played a huge part in the building of our country. The 1880 industrial boom brought the first big wave of immigrants to the United States. The wave continues today, with people seeking opportunity and the desire to have the “American Dream.” Work and schooling provide… Read More
Study: Better tourist visa laws could boost U.S. economy
Better tourist visa laws would boost the country’s revenue by at least $7.6 billion and create 50,000 jobs within five years, according to a report released Monday by the Partnership for a New American Economy. The partnership, a coalition of business groups and mayors advocating for immigration reform, says that when a… Read More
Myrtle Beach chamber backs expansion of Visa Waiver Program
Expansion of a program that allows citizens of some countries to visit the U.S. without tourism visas could increase the state’s and the Grand Strand’s chances of capturing part of a rapidly expanding market, according to some of the state’s travel leaders. “International tourism is growing faster than domestic tourism,”… Read More
Study: improved tourist visa laws would add billions in revenue and thousands of jobs within five years
Improved tourist visa laws would add more than $7.5 billion in U.S. revenue and create 50,000 U.S. jobs within five years, according to a report released Monday by The Partnership for a New American Economy. The report, “Passport to Future Economic Growth: How Expanding the Visa… Read More
Talking Turkey—and all the Trimmings—on Immigration in 2014
My daughter, who is now in high school, casually mentioned to me that she had been talking to the receptionist in the school counselor’s office about the new deferred action program for parents of U.S. citizens and kids. She told the receptionist that this represents a great community service opportunity for high school kids who can babysit for the parents who will be filling out applications at the many legal clinics that would soon open up. This discussion of community service led to a broader conversation about why people come to America and that most of us, at some time or other, were immigrants. The African-American receptionist pointed out that not everyone came willingly, but she agreed with my daughter that everyone deserved a chance to improve their life in this country. Read More
Measuring the Response to Executive Action
Estimating who may be eligible for immigration relief is always a tricky process. Their status puts them at certain risk and keeps them “in the shadows,” which has long made them difficult to count. Couple that with a strong lack of government data on them (remember Census forms do not… Read More
The Truth Behind the Fear-Mongering Around Immigration Executive Action
The anti-immigrant crowd’s latest arguments against executive action are emerging. Not surprising, they are no different than the ones they have long levied against legislative efforts at immigration reform. Their linguistic fear-mongering includes the mischaracterization of temporary reprieves from deportation as amnesty/green cards and citizenship for all, as well as… Read More
20 Years Later, California Still Feels Effects of Anti-Immigrant Measure
Saturday marks 20 years since 59 percent of Californians voted for a measure designed to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants in the state, a policy that backfired and led to a massive political shift. The measure was Proposition 187, part of 1994’s “Save Our State” initiative, and its repercussions… Read More
Immigration Restrictionists Exploit Ebola Tragedy
As the Ebola outbreak continues to take lives in West Africa, restrictionists have predictably started their “crusade” to ban travel from West African countries. Specifically, over the past few weeks, nativist groups such as the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) as well… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
