Hi-tech firms hail US immigration bill
Behind-the-scenes wrangling helped industry to ditch controls in bill passed by Senate panel
More than any other group, the hi-tech industry got big wins in an immigration bill approved by the US Senate Judiciary Committee last week, thanks to concerted lobbying, an ideally positioned Senate ally and weak opposition.
The result amounted to a bonanza for the industry: unlimited green cards granting permanent residency status for foreigners with certain advanced US degrees and a huge increase in visas for highly skilled foreign workers.
Thanks to the intervention of Utah's Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, the industry succeeded in curtailing controls sought by Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, aimed at protecting US workers.
In exchange, Hatch voted for the bill when it passed the committee, helping boost its bipartisan momentum as it heads to the Senate floor next month. For Durbin and his allies in organised labour, winning Hatch's support was a bitter victory.
"There was an agreement with the tech industry and Senator Hatch said he wanted more, and that was what it took to get his vote," Durbin said.
The tech industry "really used Senator Hatch's vote to improve their position in the bill. I understand that," Durbin said. "But I think in fairness now, I hope the industry is satisfied and they will not push this any further."