As the year 2017 starts, we all are invariably talking about President Trump and his strong immigration plans. We at ALO, will keep our readers abreast with the latest Immigration proposals and policies of the new administration in the coming weeks.
Senator Jeff Sessions faced some critical questions on Immigration during the confirmation hearings on January 11, 2017. The immediate concern is about 800,000 Dreamers who have received DACA and if it is suddenly rescinded, what happens to their future. Senator Sessions opined that the Congress needs to fix the broken system and for this, the priority will be to remove illegal immigrants in the country with criminal convictions. So, after this “lawlessness” is fixed, the Government will find out ways to deal with the people staying in the country illegally for a long time. Sessions failed to commit that the DACA recipient’s confidential information with DHS and ICE will not be used for enforcement. Although, if any such information is disclosed, it may violate fundamental fairness to the DACA recipients. Further, H-1B program was quoted as “de facto nationality based discrimination”. Senator Sessions expressed that it is not right to think that US is a totally open to world and any American with a job can be replaced by any one in the world willing to take that job. Sessions was confident to use his abilities to restrain jobs to US citizens. Senator Hirono also left the doors open if there will be any added requirements to be a US citizen, without violating the Constitution. Also came up the need to have a legal counsel for children who are facing removal proceedings. Sessions was clear in stating that the term “illegal immigrants” did not distinguish between minors and adults and so, no free lawyers should be given to all those who come here illegally, whether adults or children.
Further on January 13, 2017, US Department of Homeland Security released a Notice of Proposed Rule making that will dramatically change the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The standard minimum investment amount is proposed to increase from $1 million to $1.8 million, which is an 80% jump. For investors seeking to invest in Targeted employment area, DHS proposes to increase the minimum investment amount from $500,000 to $1.35 million, increase of 170%. This will bring speculative ripples on EB 5 program.
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