Immigration
Step Three: Clear the Deck & Find a Rational Balance
The 1787 plan moves the United States to an employment-based immigration system to determine who becomes a Permanent Resident, which means no more random lottery. The plan takes age, education, job skills, work experience, work specialization, and English language proficiency into consideration. Family ties will only be considered in a separate category called Family Sponsorship (which includes children, spouses/partners, parents, and grandparents), but this will be far more limited than it is now.
To succeed, it’s critical we find an optimal balance. It’s just like Goldilocks and those bowls of porridge. Too little immigration will stunt our economic growth and global competitiveness. Too much will increase inequality, stress our social systems, and ultimately become counterproductive. So, we must find the balance that is just right.
THIS IS THE BALANCE 1787 PROPOSES:
Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Allows someone to live and work permanently in the U.S.
The Yearly Number: 1,000,000 MINUS the number of STEM graduates who accept a Green Card MINUS the number of H-2A and H-2B visas awarded MINUS the number of refugees and asylum-seekers visas given.
Family Sponsorship (Green Card)
Allows someone to live and work permanently in the U.S.
The Yearly Number: 100,000/year
Permanent Workers (EB1 – EB5)
EB-1
Persons of extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; outstanding professors or researchers; and multinational executives and managers.
EB-2
Persons who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or for persons with exceptional ability in the arts, sciences, or business.
EB-3
Professionals, skilled workers, and other workers.
EB-4
Certain religious workers, employees of U.S. foreign service posts, retired employees of international organizations, alien minors who are wards of courts in the United States.
EB-5
Business investors who invest $1 million or $500,000 (if the investment is made in a targeted employment area) in a new commercial enterprise that employs at least 10 full-time U.S. workers.
The Yearly Number: Unlimited, BUT all categories will require a Labor Certification (i.e., a job offer from U.S. sponsor or, for EB-5, proof of investment and at least ten full-time U.S. workers).
Temporary Workers
H-1B
H-1B1
H-3
L
O
P-1
P-2
P-3
Q-1
Person in Specialty Occupation
Free Trade Agreement
Trainee or Special Education
Intracompany Transferee
Individual with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Individual or Team Athlete, or Entertainment Group
Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group)
Artist or Entertainer (Individual or Group)
Participant in an International Cultural Exchange Program
The Yearly Number: Unlimited, BUT all these categories will require a Labor Certification (i.e., a job offer or specific event).
STEM Graduates (Green Card)
Allows someone to live and work permanently in the U.S. (note: this is a separate category that will open space in the EB categories for other important disciplines).
The Yearly Number: Unlimited, BUT this number goes against the yearly national limit set for all immigration categories.
H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker
For temporary or seasonal agricultural work.
U.S. employers/agents who meet specific regulatory requirements can bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs. A U.S. employer, agent, or an association of U.S. agricultural producers named as a joint employer must petition on a prospective worker’s behalf.
The Yearly Number: 225,000/year, BUT this number goes against the yearly national limit set for all immigration categories.
H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker
For temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work.
U.S. employers/agents who meet specific regulatory requirements can bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary non-agricultural jobs. A U.S. employer or agent must petition on a prospective worker’s behalf.
The Yearly Number: 100,000/year, BUT this number goes against the yearly national limit set for all immigration categories.
Refugees & Legitimate Asylum Seekers
The Yearly Number: 100,000/year, BUT this number goes against the yearly national limit set for all immigration categories.
To be granted asylum in the United States, the qualifications are very specific. A person must need protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, being a member of a particular social group, or because of a political opinion. These parameters must be strictly followed at all times.
Study & Exchange, Temporary Business, Tourism & Visit
Before applying for a visa, students and exchange visitors must be accepted by their schools or program sponsors.
The Temporary Business and Tourism & Visit visas will use the same process as the Visa Waiver Program, which enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without having to obtain a visa.
The Yearly Number: As Needed