Immigration Bills

S. 3192, the SMART Jobs Act, would allow foreign nationals to study for master's degrees and Ph.Ds. at American colleges and universities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields on non-immigrant visas. However, once these individuals graduate, they are free to compete against American workers for jobs and will receive a work permit once they find a job. The bill also creates a new class of visa, the F-4 visa.

S. 2005, the Irish Immigration Recognition and Encouragement Act, would expand the E-3 visa category to include up to 10,500 Irish nationals each year. As the Obama administration has a stated policy of waiving inadmissibility requirements for illegal aliens, and because this bill does not prevent the administration from doing so, this bill acts as a de facto amnesty for illegal Irish aliens in the United States.

S. 1965, the Startup Act of 2011, would create 50,000 new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) visas for foreign students who graduate from a U.S. college with a master's degree or a Ph.D. The bill also creates a new visa program for 75,000 new immigrant "entrepreneurs" -- individuals who already hold an H-1B visa and would be allowed 3 extra years to remain in the U.S. and operate a new business.

S. 1202, the Refugee Protection Act, would eliminate the 1-year application deadline for asylum, thus allowing more opportunities to enter in the United States. In addition, it would waive the inadmissibility ban for certain terrorist activities and would require new detention facilities to be located within 50 miles of a major city. Furthermore, it would expedite and make the overall process for asylum seekers more comfortable by providing them with full medical care, housing, legal representation, toiletries, medication, long distance phone calls, and translators.

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