2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For The So-Called Compromise GOP Immigration
Will That Funded The Wall, Provided A Pathway To Citizenship For DACA
Recipients, And Ended The Diversity Visa Lottery Program. In June
2018, Fitzpatrick voted for the "compromise" immigration proposal
between Republican conservatives and moderates. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Passage of the bill that would appropriate
$23.4 billion for various border security activities. Included would be
$16.6 billion for a 'border wall system,' which would be available from
fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2027, and $6.8 billion for border security
investments, which would be available from fiscal 2019 through fiscal
2023. It would provide those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
status a six-year renewable contingent non-immigrant legal status and
would allow them to apply for a green card after five years, providing a
path to citizenship. It would modify legal immigration by ending the
diversity visa program and reallocating those visas to other
classifications. The bill would require that undocumented immigrants who
are charged with a misdemeanor offense for improper entry into the
United States be detained with their minor children." The vote was on
passage. The House rejected the bill by a vote of 121 to 301. [House
Vote 297, 6/27/18;
Congressional Quarterly, 6/27/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6136]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted Against A Republican Immigration Reform
Measure Which Provided $9.3 Billion In Wall Funding, A Three-Year
Renewable Temporary Status For DACA Recipients, And Reduced Overall
Legal Immigration By Ending The Diversity Visa Program And Restricting
Family-Based Immigration. In June 2018, Fitzpatrick voted against a
conservative immigration reform bill. Acceding to Congressional
Quarterly, "Passage of the bill that would authorize $24.8 billion for
fiscal 2018 through fiscal 2022 for various border security activities,
including $9.3 billion for a border wall and other physical barriers
and would provide individuals registered under the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals program with a three-year, renewable contingent
non-immigrant legal status but with no special path to citizenship. It
would modify legal immigration by ending the diversity visa program and
restricting most family-based immigration to allow only spouses and
minor children of legal permanent residents to receive green cards. It
would increase enforcement of immigration laws within the United States,
including by requiring all employers to verify the immigration status
and eligibility of individuals seeking jobs in the United States." The
vote was on passage. The House rejected the bill by a vote of 193 to
231. [House Vote 282,
6/21/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/21/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
4760]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The EAGLE Act Of 2022,
Which Would Have Eliminated The Per-Country Cap For Employment-Based
Immigrants And Raised The Per-Country Limit For Family-Sponsored Green
Cards. In December 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res 1508) that
would provide for floor consideration of the Equal Access to Green cards
for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act (HR 3648) [...] The bill would
provide for one hour of general debate and floor consideration of one
amendment to each bill." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The
House adopted the rule by a vote of 215-201. The House did not take
further action on the bill. [House Vote 501,
12/6/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/6/22;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1508;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3648]
The Bill Would Have Eliminated The Per-Country Limit For
Employment-Based Immigrants And Increased The Per-Country Limit For
Family-Sponsored Immigrants. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate
the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based
immigrants, to increase the per-country numerical limitation for
family-sponsored immigrants, and for other purposes."
[Congressional Quarterly,
12/14/22]
The Per-Country Caps On Employment-Based Green Cards
Disproportionately Maintained People From Big Countries, Like India,
On A Years-Long Waitlist. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"One of them, the so-called EAGLE Act (HR 3648), introduced by
Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, would eliminate
per-country caps on employment-based green cards. That system has
disproportionately kept people from populous countries like India on
a yearslong waitlist for a visa." [Congressional Quarterly,
12/2/22]
The Bill Would Have Increased The Annual Limit On Family-Based
Green Cards Per Country From 7% To 15%. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "That bill would also raise the annual cap on
family-based green cards per country from 7 percent of the number of
such visas available that year to 15 percent." [Congressional
Quarterly, 12/2/22]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For The So-Called Compromise GOP Immigration
Will That Funded The Wall, Provided A Pathway To Citizenship For DACA
Recipients, And Reduced Certain Family Based Visas. In June 2018,
Fitzpatrick voted for the "compromise" immigration proposal between
Republican conservatives and moderates. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "Passage of the bill that would appropriate $23.4 billion
for various border security activities. Included would be $16.6 billion
for a 'border wall system,' which would be available from fiscal 2019
through fiscal 2027, and $6.8 billion for border security investments,
which would be available from fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2023. It would
provide those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status a
six-year renewable contingent non-immigrant legal status and would allow
them to apply for a green card after five years, providing a path to
citizenship. It would modify legal immigration by ending the diversity
visa program and reallocating those visas to other classifications. The
bill would require that undocumented immigrants who are charged with a
misdemeanor offense for improper entry into the United States be
detained with their minor children." The vote was on passage. The House
rejected the bill by a vote of 121 to 301. [House Vote 297,
6/27/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/27/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
6136]
Legislation Ended All-Family Based Immigration Except Unmarried
Sons And Daughters. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The
bill eliminates all family-based immigration categories except the
one comprised of unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and
it increases from 7% to 15% the percentage of family-based visas
that can be allocated to the citizens of any single nation, while
eliminating the per-country cap on employment-based visa
allocations." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/20/18]
Legislation Created A Merit-Based Points System For Awarding Green
Cards, Including DACA Recipients, Based On Qualifications Like
Education And English Proficiency. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "It creates a merit-based points system for awarding
green cards to contingent non-immigrants such as DACA recipients and
the children of certain other immigrants. Points would be awarded
based on qualifications such as education level, military service,
English proficiency, vocational training and skills, and work
experience." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/20/18]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted Against A Republican Immigration Reform
Measure Which Provided $9.3 Billion In Wall Funding, A Three-Year
Renewable Temporary Status For DACA Recipients, And Reduced Overall
Legal Immigration By Ending The Diversity Visa Program And Restricting
Family-Based Immigration. In June 2018, Fitzpatrick voted against a
conservative immigration reform bill. Acceding to Congressional
Quarterly, "Passage of the bill that would authorize $24.8 billion for
fiscal 2018 through fiscal 2022 for various border security activities,
including $9.3 billion for a border wall and other physical barriers
and would provide individuals registered under the Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals program with a three-year, renewable contingent
non-immigrant legal status but with no special path to citizenship. It
would modify legal immigration by ending the diversity visa program and
restricting most family-based immigration to allow only spouses and
minor children of legal permanent residents to receive green cards. It
would increase enforcement of immigration laws within the United States,
including by requiring all employers to verify the immigration status
and eligibility of individuals seeking jobs in the United States." The
vote was on passage. The House rejected the bill by a vote of 193 to
231. [House Vote 282,
6/21/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/21/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
4760]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Modify The H-2A Non-Immigrant Visa Program
For Seasonal Agricultural Workers, Which Would Increase To 20,000
Three-Year Round Visas. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for the Farm
Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "overhaul the H-2A nonimmigrant visa program
for temporary agricultural workers [...] The bill would overhaul the
H-2A visa program, which currently grants nonimmigrant visas for
temporary or seasonal agricultural workers. Among other provisions, it
would add up to 20,000 three-year visas authorizing year-round
agricultural work; modify procedures for employers to petition for H-2A
worker positions and require DHS to establish an electronic portal to
serve as an access point for employers for all related documentation;
modify wage requirements for H-2A workers; and establish a number of
requirements related to legal protections, housing and transportation
for such workers." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by
a vote of 247-174. The Senate did not take substantive action on the
bill. [House Vote 93,
3/18/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/18/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1603]
Agricultural Employers Have Filled Their Labor Shortages By Using
The H-2A Non-Immigrant Visa Program For "Labor Intensive Segments,"
But Have Criticized The Paperwork Procedure And Labor Costs.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Farmers use the H-2A program
to bring in seasonal workers to fill shortages for labor intensive
segments of agriculture like vegetable and fruit production.
Agricultural employers have complained about paperwork and labor
costs." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/18/21]
Dairy Farmers Have Not Benefitted From The H-2A Non-Immigrant Visa
Program Due To Their Need For Year-Round Employees, Not Seasonal
Workers. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Dairy farmers say
the program is hard to use because they need year-round workers and
the program provides seasonal labor." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/18/21]
The H-2A Temporary Visa Program For Seasonal Farm Workers Admitted
Over 196,000 Workers In 2018. According to Vox, "The bill
streamlines the application process for the H-2A temporary visa
program for seasonal agricultural workers, which admitted over
196,000 people in 2018." [Vox,
3/18/21]
The Bill Would Permit Up To 40,000 Green Cards To Be Administered
Annually, Either Through Employer Sponsorship Or If An Agricultural
Worker Maintains H-2A Status For A Decade. According to Vox, "It
also allows for up to 40,000 green cards to be granted annually,
either through the sponsorship of an employer or if workers maintain
H-2A status for 10 years." [Vox,
3/18/21]
The Bill Would Establish A New Program That Would Grant At Most
$20,000 Visas For Year-Round Agricultural Services, Which Were
Initially Forbidden In Participating In The H-2A Program And Faced
Worker Shortages. According to Vox, "the bill would create a new
program capped at 20,000 visas for year-round agricultural
industries, which were previously barred from participating in the
H-2A program and faced labor shortages, including dairy farming and
producers of other animal products." [Vox,
3/18/21]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize 8,000 Special Immigrant Visas For
Qualified Afghan Nationals Who Have Been Employed By The U.S.
Government. In July 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for the Averting Loss of
Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs Act of 2021 which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "authorize an additional 8,000 special
immigrant visas for Afghan interpreters, contractors, and others
employed by the U.S. government who face ongoing serious threats as a
consequence of such employment. It would also modify the program to
remove a requirement that applicants provide a 'credible sworn
statement' regarding dangerous country conditions as evidence of an
ongoing serious threat, instead requiring them to have 'asserted a
credible basis for concern about the possibility of an ongoing serious
threat' as a result of their employment; remove a requirement that
applicants must have performed 'sensitive and trusted' activities for
the U.S. military personnel; and clarify that Afghan nationals who
worked under U.S.-funded cooperative agreements or grants are eligible
for the program." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by
a vote of 407-16. [House Vote 218,
7/22/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/22/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3985]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment That Would Allow Admission Of
Essential Scientists And Experts To Promote And Protect The National
Security Innovation Base By Providing A Special Immigrant Status. In
September 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment to the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide for special immigrant status to allow
for admission of 'essential' scientists and technical experts to promote
and protect the national security innovation base." The vote was on
adoption of an amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of
225-187. [House Vote 286,
9/23/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 9/23/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
121;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
4350]