Editor’s note: We endeavor to bring you the top voices on current events representing a range of perspectives. Below is a column arguing that the EAGLE Act will enhance the American economy while making the immigration system fairer. You can find a counterpoint here, where FAIR President Dan Stein argues that the EAGLE Act will make American immigration more unfair but also give China more opportunities for technology theft.
This week conservatives in Congress have an opportunity to put new immigration enforcement provisions into law. The EAGLE Act, HR 3648, is scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives and as a former Republican Member of Congress, I would encourage my Republican colleagues to support this legislation.
My Republican colleagues in the House are rightfully concerned about the massive crisis on our southern border and the integrity of our system to prevent ILLEGAL immigration.
But what conservatives need to know about the EAGLE Act is that this bill is an enforcement bill that improves the integrity of our LEGAL immigration system.
Today, our employment-based green cards are being allocated to people with lower pay and education because of a bizarre 1920s relic where green cards are allocated by country instead of by merit. Doesn’t it make more sense to move to a merit-based system of allocating green cards and ensure that the best and brightest and those able to contribute the most to America’s economy are prioritized? Indeed, using precious green cards for entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers and those with professional degrees will add significant economic output to our economy.
The EAGLE Act ends the rampant abuse of the H-1B temporary worker program and protects American workers. It halts the use of job-shops — unscrupulous companies that have a majority of their workers on visas and take American jobs. It bans the fraudulent use of visitor visas to circumvent the H-1B process when visas are not available. And, it requires prospective H-1B employers to publicly advertise any openings to workers already in the U.S. on the Department of Labor website so that American workers have first crack at any new jobs here at home.
The bill would also provide additional authority for DOL to review, investigate, and punish H-1B employers for failing to pay or employ H-1B workers at the rate, location, and occupation specified on their petition.
This legislation is an opportunity for a down payment on what conservatives want in our immigration system – reducing fraud, encouraging the hiring of American workers, and allocating the green cards we have to the most educated and highly paid immigrants possible.
My former colleagues should support this bill, and should not let perfection be the enemy of a major improvement to the system.
Erik Paulsen represented Minnesota in Congress from 2009-2019.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller.