New Border Security Law Sparks Diplomatic Talks and Offshoring Concerns
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Computerworld reports that the United States government is reviewing whether the recently-enacted border security law, funded through increased H-1B and L-1 visa application fees for certain foreign-owned companies, runs afoul of World Trade Organization rules, as the law’s opponents and India’s Commerce Secretary contend. However, the issue was only briefly addressed in a recent U.S. Department of State press briefing during which a spokesperson confirmed that discussions about the law were being held between U.S. and Indian officials. Some suggest that the law could increase Indian companies’ U.S. operating costs by $250 million per year.
In a separate article, Computerworld reports that the law has caused rare consensus among H-1B visa advocates and opponents. Individuals on both sides contend that the bill will not create IT jobs for Americans. They suggest that targeted companies—foreign entities operating in the U.S. whose workforce is 50% or more foreign—can easily shift operations to Canada or Latin America. Finally, there are concerns that the fees’ generated revenue is misdirected, and that the funds should be used to spur innovation in the U.S. technology industry rather than to increase law enforcement operations at the United States’ southwestern border.
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During a special session held this morning, the Senate .jpg)
Although some contend a comprehensive immigration bill is not probable as midterm elections near, President Obama has urged Republican lawmakers to work with Democrats in passing a law that would create an “orderly, fair, humane immigration framework in which people are able to immigrate to this country in a legal fashion,” .jpg)
A 26-page outline of a new proposed immigration overhaul bill would require all employers to use a newly-created Biometric Enrollment, Locally-stored Information, and Electronic Verification of Employment (BELIEVE) System as a means of verifying employee work authorization. Within 18 months of the proposed bill’s enactment, the Social Security Administration would be required to issue biometric social security cards, which within five years would serve as the only acceptable document employers could use for employment verification purposes. The proposal also calls for a 300 percent increase in monetary fines against employers that knowingly hire illegal workers, and enhanced civil and criminal penalties against employers that engage in egregious labor violations involving unauthorized workers. To learn more about the proposal and the potential implications for employers, please continue reading at Littler's .jpg)
The Wall Street Journal 
Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) have introduced the 
This week, Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) introduced the “Criminal Penalties for Unauthorized Employment Act of 2010” (.gif){kind=small}
Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX) 
In his 2010 State of the Union address, President Obama devoted only a single sentence to immigration reform. As reported by .jpg)
Two bills introduced in both the House and Senate last week would make significant changes to the 
Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D-Tex.) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) have introduced the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America’s Security and Prosperity (CIR ASAP) Act of 2009 (H.R. 4321), an immigration overhaul bill they hope will receive serious consideration early next year. In October, Rep. Gutierrez outlined a set of 
Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) have introduced legislation that would prevent large companies that conduct mass layoffs from hiring foreign labor through guest worker programs. The Employ America Act (
On October 28, 2009, President Obama 