Houston, TX (Law Firm Newswire) June 11, 2019 – The stated intention of the current Administration is to cut back on family-based immigration and instead favor “merit-based” immigration. If such a system were to be put into place, it means the United States would give priority to high-skilled immigrants with degrees who speak fluent English, rather than choose immigrants with immediate relatives in the country.
This kind of a merit-based system is similar in nature to how Canada allows immigrants in the country. The problem in the United States is that the proposed changes to the immigration system are relatively scant on details.
While the arguments may seem to make sense on the surface, the fact is that the United States actually needs more low-skilled immigrants due to the fact that the country is in the midst of a significant labor shortage in all industries. It has become increasingly difficult to find construction laborers, hotel-cleaning staff and restaurant cooks.
In March, there were 1.4 million open positions for professionals, but only 811,000 out of work individuals with bachelor degrees seeking work. In the unskilled labour file there were 2.1 million jobs open for low-skilled workers, but only 1.2 million people without degrees were looking for work. That is two available job positions for every out of work person with a high school diploma or less. According to the Department of Labor (DOL), the number of jobs available every month has been higher than the number of people looking for work. This has not happened in at least twenty years.
“The high demand for workers is typically for the kind of jobs undocumented workers are already doing, and have done for years, such as working the fields, running orchards, taking off crops,” explained respected business immigration attorney Annie Banerjee. “If the government ignores this reality, it could make the labor shortage even worse. Furthermore, if the government ignores the reality of workers needed for farming, there is likely going to be a food shortage over time.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) there are approximately 1 million green cards issued every year. Approximately 140,000 are employment based visas, with the remainder granted on the basis of refugee status, the diversity lottery and family connections.
“While we do need to modernize the immigration system, it needs to be done realistically and with an awareness of all aspects of a changing American landscape” said Banerjee.
Law Offices of Annie Banerjee
131 Brooks Street, Suite #300
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
Phone: (281) 242-9139
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