During a Congressional hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee on the Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Homeland Security Budget Request, Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar voiced concerns about the state of the United States’ immigration system, labeling it as broken and in need of overhaul.
Thanedar, referencing his own experience as an immigrant, recounted his struggles with obtaining a student visa in 1979, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles he faced. “The embassy continued to deny it four more times. The fifth time, the visa got approved, only because the denying officer was on vacation to the United States,” he stated.
He further emphasized the challenges posed by the current immigration system, particularly in relation to H-1B visas and country quotas, asserting that these factors create stress for families and hinder the recruitment of skilled workers by technology companies. Thanedar pointed to other nations such as Canada and Australia as examples of countries benefiting from America’s immigration system flaws, as they attract skilled workers who might otherwise have chosen the United States.
Expressing his vision for reform, Thanedar advocated for an orderly immigration process that not only serves the interests of the United States but also bolsters its economy and job market. “I want to see an orderly immigration process that benefits the United States, that benefits our economy and helps create American jobs,” he stated.
In response to these concerns, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged the pressing need for immigration reform. He noted President Joe Biden’s efforts to address the issue, highlighting a comprehensive legislative package presented to Congress on the first day of his presidency. Mayorkas underscored the importance of advancing bipartisan legislation to modernize and repair the outdated immigration system, which has remained largely unchanged since 1996.
The testimonies of Congressman Thanedar and Secretary Mayorkas underscored a shared recognition of the deficiencies within the US immigration system and the urgent need for legislative action to address these shortcomings.