New American Economy on the RELIEF Act of 2019

This week Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced S. 2603, the Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families (RELIEF) Act of 2019. The legislation seeks to eliminate within five years the decades-long backlog of employment and family-based visa applicants by expanding the total number of green cards available. It would also alleviate wait times by lifting per-country caps, and it would free up green cards by not counting children and spouses of permanent residents and employment-based visa holders towards annual visa limits. 

“America should be rolling out the red carpet for high-skilled immigrants – they fill jobs we have open now, and ultimately they create even more jobs,” said John Feinblatt, President of New American Economy. “The RELIEF Act would make it easier for in-demand, high-skilled talent to come here – a no-brainer – and Congress should pass it right away.”