Green Card Fiasco
What do we want? Green Cards! When do we want them? Now!!!
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In the face of mounting protests and the threat of legal action by highly skilled immigrants and their advocates, the U.S. government said on July 17 that it will reverse a previous decision and accept applications from thousands of workers who are trying to become permanent residents.
Rescinding a notice from early July, the Homeland Security Dept.’s U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will accept applications from employment-based green-card hopefuls for advancement to the final phase of the process until Aug. 17. Advancement to this “Adjustment of Status” step means that these workers—many of whom have been tied to one employer under visas as they await green cards—will now have the freedom to switch jobs and accept promotions. They’ll also be one step closer to staying in the U.S. for good.
“The public reaction to the July 2 announcement made it clear that the federal government’s management of this process needs further review,” said USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez in a statement. “I am committed to working with Congress and the State Dept. to implement a more efficient system in line with public expectations.”
The Occasion for the TurnaboutHighly skilled workers applauded the decision, though they vow to press for more action to improve their situation. The workers, in the U.S. legally, often have to wait years for their green cards because of a backlog of applications that has swelled to tens of thousands of people from some countries. “This is a good temporary solution,” says Jay Pradhan, spokesperson for Immigration Voice, an advocacy group for highly skilled immigrants that organized a rally and other actions. “It’s a great relief that all the time and money people spent won’t go to waste. But more importantly, it’s a step forward for peoples’ careers and their lives.”
