Green Card Backlog Fix — S.386 — Collection of Events and Voices registered for, and against, this bill merits
Excerpt —
Punctuated moments of hope and desperate for those who involved, fueled by news cycles and stroke of twitter feeds. As things stand, no relief in sight. Here is the collection of events and voices shaped this bill discourse.
Introduction —
S.386 — This bill is work in progress for more than a year now; people with interest in the outcome of this bill have an uneasy experience over the discourse.
From the outset, each passing event and the twist and turn that characterize this bill trajectory, making them feel nauseated and subject them to an emotional roller coaster rides.
Punctuated moments that offer hopes with the possibility of distance triumph, then only to shatter by the next news cycle or the stroke of a single tweet from someone who has the power to influence it. And these events are so momentary that matter of less than mayfly lifetime is enough to undo the previous event entirely. Such is life, in the last one and a half years, for those involved in this fight.
As things stand, my prediction is that this bill will not see the finish line in the remaining term of this congress in 2020. In the end, only left with a bitter emotional package came with inter-fight among the immigrant community, partisan bickering, and all positions of propaganda.

Here are the key events that shaped the discourse —
Apple CEO, Tim Cook
Immigrants make this country stronger and our economy more dynamic. As a first step toward needed comprehensive reform, I urge the Senate to move quickly to pass the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The contributions of these workers are critical to America’s future.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 17, 2019
Support from Tech Community —
Salesforce —
🙏🏾 Standing for Fair Immigration Policy Regardless of Country of Origin #S386 #EqualityForAll 🙏🏾 https://t.co/AQCbtwYtYA
— Tony Prophet (@tony_prophet) December 20, 2019
🙏🏾 We need fair immigration policies regardless on National Origin — #GreenCardEquality #S386 #EqualityForAll 🙏🏾 https://t.co/4ZW6DBNuK4
— Tony Prophet (@tony_prophet) September 22, 2019
Calling on the US Senate to pass the bipartisan Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act now. The unfair and punitive backlog must not be tolerated. #S386 #HR1044 @SalesforceEQ
— Amy E Weaver (@amy_e_weaver) October 4, 2019
Microsoft —
It’s time for the US Senate to pass the bipartisan Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. It’s good for our nation’s economy and creates a fairer immigration system. #S386 #HR1044
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) October 5, 2019
Oppositions from Notables —
Fox business news prime time anchor Lou Dobbs has picked up this issue multiple times in the last year.
Betraying American Workers. Sen. Mike Lee fails for the fourth time to pass his green card giveaway bill. #S386 #MAGA #AmericaFirst #Dobbs pic.twitter.com/vCj3PXRri5
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) October 17, 2019
Fox News personality Laura Ingraham was a recent one to join the foray via her response to WSJ ad tweet.
No to the fraud of importing foreign workers as a pay-off to the tech industry—it wants workers who have zero bargaining power, at below-market wages. Pres. Trump, please say no to this. https://t.co/YwRkqromPc
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) January 6, 2020
Big Tech will always push for cheaper, captive labor pools fed by foreign sources. It’s up to us, and lawmakers to prevent the ongoing sell-out of American tech workers. https://t.co/z9G4LSHqr1
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) January 21, 2020
Breitbart: Ultra conservative online media outlet
GOP Sen. Perdue flops, so Sen. Mike Lee likely gets Senate & GOP vote on Thursday for a huge green-card giveaway to S-Valley investors. Lee's @S386 shows US biz is converting the immigration system to target white-collar salaries & boost US-India trade. https://t.co/zQPRJgObQQ
— Neil Munro (@NeilMunroDC) September 26, 2019
Center for Immigration Studies
A good idea that should be adopted here. https://t.co/I8nF23LiWz
— Jessica Vaughan (@JessicaV_CIS) January 26, 2020
Key Legislative Attempts —
Possibly more to come —
Immediately, after the news of a deal between Senators. Lee and Durbin announced, Breitbart was quick to quell any optimism with their insider scoop about likely objections coming from South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds to UC.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin Opposition and Deal —
Mr. Durbin has not only objected to this bill and quick to propose a substitute bill, In what everyone considers as poison bill, S.2603 — Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families Act, also known as RELIEF ACT.
However, through the relentless campaign from the activist groups and immigration community, seemingly agreed for some compromise and latest draft S.386 were out. Whether this is an election year adjustment or genuine interest in finding common ground, only time will tell.
Sep 25, 2019 —
Mr. David Perdue's, Georgia Senator, has expressed on the senate floor that has problems with language, nobody knows what his objection to the bill. And, Senator. Lee offered an amendment that makes him come around to support this bill.
Senator. Rand Paul Compromise —
His objection to this bill had come from its effectiveness in addressing problems specific to the health care sector.
Sen. Lee and Sen. Harris from California did the successful negotiations and settled on a compromise to bring him around to lift his hold.
Sep 2019 —
Senator. Mike Lee attempted to pass this bill through Unanimous Consent (UC), procedural maneuver available to short-circut this process and fast-track it.
Senator. Rand Paul has objected to UC and blocked this bill from getting UC.
Feb 2019 —
S.386: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, this is where the action is, in the last year or so.
Sponsor: Senator. Mike Lee

Introduced: 02/07/2019
Feb 2019 —
All of this starts with a bill — H.R.1044 — passed in the House of Congress.
Sponsor: Representative. Zoe Lofgren
Introduced: 02/07/2019
Passed: 07/10/2019
In a matter of five months, secured enough bipartisan support in the house and passed with 365 / 65

Key Players on both sides —
Against this bill —
CHICAGO: Please support Senator Durbin on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 4 pm, 230 S Dearborn. He is unfairly being attacked for his reasoned opposition to #S386, a terrible bill that hasn’t had a single hearing. Immigration law is so important - we need to get it right.
— Amy Maldonado (@AmyMaldonadoLaw) October 8, 2019
HR 1044. This is by far the worst vote. It would have allowed for millions more foreign H1B and EB5 workers from mostly India and China to drive down wages and increases taxes.
— FoxworthForCongress (@FoxworthFor14) January 27, 2020
Not taxpayer friendly
God Bless you Laura!! @IngrahamAngle @potus @realdonaldtrump @uscis @HomelandKen @4us_workers @michellemalkin @seanhannity @LouDobbs @JessicaV_CIS @RonHira @seanhannity @TuckerCarlson @jonvoight https://t.co/j2172OZ2Hr
— Dawn Casey (@Dawnnewyorker) January 21, 2020
Guessing @Dawnnewyorker is the person behind WSJ ads and billboard advertisements against S.386. For that, she should have a spot on this list.
Supporting S.386 —
🚨🚨🚨🚨
— Immigration Voice (@immivoice) January 22, 2020
ACTION ITEM ALERT
🚨🚨🚨🚨
Call all Senators who have NOT co-sponsored #S386 and ask them to support the bill when it comes on the floor for a vote. pic.twitter.com/NBASRnaQTN
True—the visa bulletin tells the story of a lost decade for doctors, engineers, patent holders, and their families. Lets hope the next decade will be the roaring 20s for innovation! https://t.co/SbNhAHQ60C
— Leon Fresco (@FrescoLeon) December 23, 2019
All Illinois Groups are organizing a "Walk for Equality" this Thursday Oct 10th to Senator Durbin's office in Chicago. Please help spread the word. #S386 #HR1044 #GreenCardEquality @immivoice @SIIA_US @gcreforms pic.twitter.com/QPJAo3CWPm
— Illinois Immigration Forum (@IIFImmigration) October 8, 2019