Republican members of Congress have introduced a bill that seeks to rescind the Diversity Visa program, a lottery for visas offered to countries that have low immigration rates into the United States. In the House, the bill was amended by the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims and it is now waiting for a hearing before the full Judiciary Committee. Democratic members in the Subcommittee on Immigration vehemently opposed the bill, which passed by 5 to 3 votes.
According to a message circulated through the Internet, the bill was marked up on September 14. On that same day two bills were introduced: HR 775, related to diversity visa lottery; and H R 4306, [an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act] which would give employers authority to scrutinize the work record of [immigrant] employees. H R 4306 was passed unanimously.
The HR 775, introduced by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), proposes terminating the visa lottery all together, a program originally intended to create a robust diversity in the immigrant population of this country. If the bill is not passed by October 15th, a new bill will have to be introduced next year.
This proposed legislation has been brought to Congress at a time when most of the immigrant advocacy groups think that it should continue, arguing that legal immigration would ensure U.S. national security. The diversity visa, activists point out, is also helpful in efforts to resist the smuggling of human beings through U.S. borders.
If the bill is passed, it will hurt immigration from countries from which it is difficult to come to the United States in a professional capacity. Fewer people will be able to come to here, and the established system of remittances sent from Bangladeshis working in United States back to Bangladesh would suffer.
The bill has been sent to the full Judiciary Committee for review. Supporters of the bill include: John Hostettler (R-IN); Jeff Flake (R-AZ); Elton Gallegy (R-CA); Steve King (R-IA); and Melissa Hart (R-PA). Those opposed include: Democratic members Sheila Jackson (D-TX); Linda Sanchez (D-CA); and Zoe Lofgen (D-CA). The ultimate fate of the H.R 775 is unclear. Neither is it clear whether President Bush will sign the affidavit into law.
