What is USA’s EAGLE Act?

US House of Representatives has reintroduced bipartisan legislation to eliminate per country cap on employment-based green card. This legislation is called as “EAGLE Act” and was introduced to benefit Indian IT professionals who are waiting over decades for green card.

What is EAGLE Act, 2021?

EAGLE Act is called as “Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment Act”. It proposes to phase out limit of seven per cent per-country on employment-based immigrant visas. It also seeks to raise seven per cent per-country limit to 15 percent on family-sponsored visas.

How will it help Indians?

Due to existing cap, a person from a large-population country like India with extraordinary qualifications, who could contribute to US economy & create jobs, waits behind person with lesser qualifications from small country. Thus, new legislation will reduce waiting time for Indian professionals.

Background

Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act is predecessor of EAGLE Act. It was passed in House in 116th Congress with a resounding bipartisan vote of 365 to 65.

Indian Migrants to United States

Immigration from India to US started in early 19th century when Indian immigrants started to settle in communities along the West Coast. They originally arrived in small numbers but as new opportunities opened up in middle of 20th century, population grew larger in following decades. As of 2019, more than 2.7 million Indian immigrants reside in United States. Indian immigrants account for l6 percent of U.S. foreign-born population. Thus, they are second largest immigrant group in country after Mexicans.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021