Press Release from Illinois Immigration Forum Amid Concerns Over Immigration bill

Hundreds of demonstrators with the Illinois Immigration Forum, many from India, held a protest in front of O’Donovan’s restaurant in Northern Chicago on November 3rd 2019 to raise their concerns over S386 Immigration bill which would remove country caps to allow immigrants to receive green cards on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Press Release from Illinois Immigration Forum:

Press Release

Illinois Immigration forum, a grass root Immigration advocacy group in Illinois organized a community protest in front of O’Donovan’s restaurant in Northern Chicago on November 3rd 2019, to raise objection to Hon.Senator Durbin’s block for Unanimous Consent of the bi-partisan Lee-Harris legislation S.386/HR.1044 – Fairness for High-skilled Immigrants act of 2019.

Half million high-skilled Immigrants across the United States, who are stuck in the Green card backlog because of an arbitrary per country cap in Employment based Green Card allocations, were thrilled when HR.1044 was brought on floor after 8 years in the house and passed with overwhelming majority (365 YAYS – 65 NAYS) in July 2019. However, when the same bill was introduced in Senate under Unanimous Consent, they were saddened to learn that Senator Durbin objected to the passage of the bill.

Couple of Hundreds of concerned Constituents from greater Chicagoland area and Illinois gathered to participate in the ‘Stand for Equality’ to voice their protest in front of Senator Durbin’s Fund raiser event, for Senator not to object the only legislation that could provide a pathway to their future.

Despite the cold weather, several families came along with their children to show solidarity and hundreds more from Illinois joined them at O’Donovan’s restaurant for their ‘Stand for Equality’
The demonstrators were seen wearing T-shirts, holding American flags, rally signs and banners reading Stand for EQUALITY, Separate is Not Equal, Help our children, End National Origin Discrimination, Support Green Card Equality,don't force our children to Self-Deport, Don't block Pass S.386, Pass HR.1044
They were heard shouting slogans - Treat us equal, not Separate, Pass 386, We love Illinois and We love USA.

IIF volunteers were able to meet with Senator Durbin outside the restaurant and appeal to him to reconsider his objection for the bill S.386. Senator Dusbin was engaged with compassionate life stories and factual data provided by the group. When volunteers requested him to work with Senator Mike Lee, he agreed to collaborate with Senator Lee on the bill S.386. Senator Durbin promised to accommodate an in-person appointment to IIF volunteers when requested.

Current legislation allocates Green Cards based on “country of birth”, however Employment-based green cards are applied by American Businesses, and not by an individual or a foreign entity. In order to truly enforce quota system based on country of birth, American Business should consider “Country of birth” as a factor while hiring an individual and this is discrimination and a violation of Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act creates a fair and equitable, “first come, first serve” system for receiving employment-based green cards, putting an end to the discriminatory quota system based on country of birth that leaves half a million high-skilled immigrants (who are already vetted by USCIS and are living in the United States) with a potential 150 year-long wait.

Senator Durbin is,

o Currently obstructing the only legislation that can help the high-skilled Immigrants.

o Opposing the same legislation that he championed in 2011 (S.1983: Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants
Act of 2011)

By blocking this bill in the Senate, Senator Durbin is supporting,

County of Origin Discrimination.
Dependent kids from aging out and self-deporting.
US Born Citizens from being sent out of Country since they are tied to their parents’ uncertainty.
Doctors, Surgeons that helps rural America to leave US.
Wage depression caused by job portability restrictions on these high-skilled Immigrants impacts entire American workforce.
Pushing STEM professionals to leave US, which causes brain-drain.
Forcing American Businesses to outsource to other Nations, hurting US Economy.