Immigration Backlog Reduction Bill Introduced
Posted Apr 28, 2000

On Thursday, April 13, 2000, Senator Dianne Feinstein announced that she would be introducing a Bill to reduce the huge INS backlogs. The details of the Bill have not been released; however, it is certainly a good sign that our legislators are planning on introducing legislation that shows that they are concerned about the INS processing delays and value the contributions of our immigrants to the U.S. The Bill should send the message that INS' tremendous backlogs will not be tolerated any longer, as these delays hurt millions of people seeking to become U.S. citizens, those who are fleeing political persecution, or those trying to reunite with their families, as well as businesses seeking to employ highly skilled foreign workers, who are in shortage, and needed by U.S. employers.

The Bill apparently also acknowledges that funding is the major problem facing INS. In the past few years, the U.S. Congress has utilized the majority of the funds appropriated for immigration towards INS enforcement (about 80%) instead of towards providing services to those who are paying a majority of the fees. Moreover, Congress has imposed numerous conflicting mandates on the INS, without addressing funding concerns. As a result, the INS has been forced to use its limited and shrinking resources to fund these mandates.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) intends to continue to work with Sen. Feinstein's office to make some improvements to the language of the Bill and to gain bipartisan support.

The Law Office of Sheela Murthy will continue to provide updated information on this important proposed legislation, which will affect most intending immigrants and their employers.