On March 26, 2020, the Congressional Research Service published “The Employment-Based Immigration Backlog”. This analysis states that the employment-based backlog will double by fiscal year 2030. It also reports that the current waiting time for employment based green cards increases to 17 and further delayed to 37 years by 2030. The analysis also shows that HR.1044/S.386 will not only lead to monopolization of the high-skilled immigration system, but also, subject all immigrants to decades of additional wait in line. The report confirms the arguments made by All of Us in recent years.
The full report can be found here. Here are some of the highlights of the report validating the argument and the mission All of US has been fighting for in the past few years:
- The employment-based backlog will double by FY2030.
“This queue of prospective immigrants— the employment-based backlog—is dominated by Indian nationals. It has been growing for decades and is projected to double in less than 10 years.” [Page 4]
- Limited number of green cards, not the per country distribution, caused the backlog.
”This employment-based backlog is projected to double by FY2030. It exists because the number of foreign workers whom U.S. employers sponsor for green cards each year exceeds the annual statutory green card allocation.” [Page 2]
- Not enough employment-based green cards hurts America.
“In the face of the substantial wait times for LPR status, however, growing numbers of such workers are reportedly migrating to countries other than the United States for education, employment, or both.” [Page 5]
- Under HR 1044/S.386, the backlog in every category will get worse.
“Given current trends, the analysis projects that by FY2030, the EB1 backlog would grow from an estimated 119,732 individuals to an estimated 268,246 individuals; the EB2 backlog would grow from 627,448 to 1,471,360 individuals; and the EB3 backlog, from 168,317 to 456,190 individuals. The total backlog for all three categories would increase from an estimated 915,497 individuals currently to an estimated 2,195,795 individuals by FY2030. These outcomes would occur whether or not S. 386 is enacted, because the bill maintains the current limit on number of green cards issued.“ [Page 2]
- S. 386 solves nothing.
“S. 386 would not alter the growth of future backlogs compared to current law. This analysis projects that, by FY2030, the EB1 backlog would grow from an estimated 119,732 individuals to an estimated 268,246 individuals; the EB2 backlog, from 627,448 individuals to 1,471,360 individuals; and the EB3 backlog, from 168,317 individuals to 456,190 individuals. In sum, the total backlog for all three employment-based categories would increase from an estimated 915,497 individuals currently to an estimated 2,195,795 by FY2030.” [Page 15]
The report correctly and rightfully shows the drawbacks and serious flaws in S386 that should have be investigated before passage of the bill in the House of Representatives in July 2019. Hopefully, the report would shed more light on the unintended consequences of this bill and pave the way for a more comprehensive legislative solution for employment-based green cards. This summary can be found here.