2018: Schweikert Voted Against 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, Schweikert voted against 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: Schweikert Voted For 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, Schweikert voted for 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: Schweikert 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, Schweikert 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: Schweikert Voted Against 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, Schweikert voted against 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: Schweikert Voted For 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, Schweikert voted for 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: Schweikert Voted Against Modifying The H-2A Non-Immigrant Visa Program For Seasonal Agricultural Workers, Which Would Increase To 20,000 Three-Year Round Visas. In March 2021, Schweikert voted against 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]
2015: Schweikert Voted Against Increasing The Number Of H-2B Visas As Part Of The FY 2016 Omnibus. In December 2015, Schweikert voted against exempting workers who hold H-2B visas from 2013, 2014 and 2015 from counting against the 2016 cap. According to Congressional Quarterly, the measure would have "exempt[ed] workers who held H-2B visas in 2013, 2014 or 2015 from the 2016 cap on H-2B visa holders. These visas, which are provided to temporary non-agricultural workers, are capped at 66,000 per year." The legislation was, according to Congressional Quarterly, a FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill with an amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 316 to 113. The legislation was later combined with a tax extender bill. The Senate passed the larger measure and the president signed it. [House Vote 705, 12/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/18/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/15/15; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/15; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2029]
H-2B Visas Are For Lower Skilled Low Skilled Foreign Workers, Typically Seasonal And Are Not Agriculture. According to The Hill, "Congressional leaders quietly slipped the provision into the 2,009-page funding bill, with rank-and-file lawmakers only discovering it Wednesday morning. The move immediately sparked protests from across the political spectrum. The provision could more than triple the number of H-2B visas for foreign workers seeking jobs at hotels, theme parks, ski resorts, golf courses, landscaping businesses, restaurants and bars. The move is intended to boost the supply of non-agricultural seasonal workers." [The Hill, 12/17/15]
Provision Could Triple The Number Of H-2B Visas. According to The Hill, "Congressional leaders quietly slipped the provision into the 2,009-page funding bill, with rank-and-file lawmakers only discovering it Wednesday morning. The move immediately sparked protests from across the political spectrum. The provision could more than triple the number of H-2B visas for foreign workers seeking jobs at hotels, theme parks, ski resorts, golf courses, landscaping businesses, restaurants and bars. The move is intended to boost the supply of non-agricultural seasonal workers." [The Hill, 12/17/15]
2021: Schweikert Voted To Authorize 8,000 Special Immigrant Visas For Qualified Afghan Nationals Who Have Been Employed By The U.S. Government. In July 2021, Schweikert 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: Schweikert Voted Against 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, Schweikert voted against 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]