Light at the end of the tunnel for Foreign Nurses

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Nov 8, 2006

There is light at the end of the tunnel with the Democrats in control of the House of Representatives and with two shy seats in the US Senate.
Remember the dynamics of US politics where Democrats are known for friendly legislations when it comes to immigration.
Way back in 2004 when retrogression settled in, a Democrat , Tom Lantos, Ca, filed a bill for the recapture of EB3 visas. And thats where we got the 50,000visas for Schedule A.
Let us keep our fingers cross. Anyway, anything that will be done would be in the early 2nd quarter next year.
But the good thing is, the new Congress will be friendly to immigration.

Immigration reform is probably one of the FEW things that could potentially get done in the next two years.

I don't think that is good news for nursing visas, though.

The result will be that the next bill will be worked through seriously and not be just a place to stuff political wish lists, like the last one was. That means the open-ended visas on the last bill will likely not even make it into the next one.

When you are actually interested in passing a bill - those bills tend to stick to the point more than bills put forward for political gain. And the POINT of immigration reform last year dealt with our Southern border, and NOT with open-ended visas.

Or to put it into perspective, unlike last year, the coming legislation will likely deal extensively with 'amnesty' for illegals already here. The tradeoff will likely be to trade THOSE 'quotas' for other quotas. The goal will be to sell a granting of official status to those already illegally here and the tradeoff will be reflected in who can come. I'm not saying that there will be stricter limits placed on legal immigration, but I can't see throwing open the doors either, especially when the 'sell' will have to be to politicians that think granting amnesty to illegals is JUST that already.

What you need to understand about this election is that many of the new Democrats won by running very conservative platforms and they won in very conservative districts. The leadership of our gov't just had a huge change, but the net affect on the political views of the actual legislators is very little changed.

~faith,

Timothy.

RGN1 · Nov 8, 2006

Well I'm one of those keeping my fingers firmly crossed that retrogression ends at least for those outside the PIC countries at any rate! I always thought Democrats were into healthcare?:)

Sheri257 · Nov 8, 2006

But the good thing is, the new Congress will be friendly to immigration.

I wouldn't count on it.

Nancy Pelosi, the future House Speaker, represents San Francisco. The California Nurses' Association, the most powerful nurses' union in the state ... staunchly opposes increased foreign nurse immigration.

http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/september/page.jsp?itemID=28182028

They also happen to be headquartered in San Francisco.

If Pelosi and other Demos want to take on CNA ... good luck. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, learned this the hard way.

The Democrats are known for doing stupid things but, I seriously doubt that Pelosi and company are going to be stupid enough to take on CNA with this issue.

It would be political suicide ... at least in their home state.

:typing

Rep · Nov 8, 2006

Immigration reform is probably one of the FEW things that could potentially get done in the next two years.
I don't think that is good news for nursing visas, though.

Could be, but there were two retrogressions in the past years and these were immediately address by the both Houses.

The result will be that the next bill will be worked through seriously and not be just a place to stuff political wish lists, like the last one was. That means the open-ended visas on the last bill will likely not even make it into the next one.

The last time they did was to recapture visas that were not use and used it for nurses and physical therapists. Sure, they can do this again.

When you are actually interested in passing a bill - those bills tend to stick to the point more than bills put forward for political gain. And the POINT of immigration reform last year dealt with our Southern border, and NOT with open-ended visas.

I disagree, the bill that Pres. Bush signed in 2005 gave an additional "recaptured" visas for Schedule A where nurses and pts belong. It has nothing to do with the Southern border.

It is only this year that the Sourthern border became an issue because of illegal immigration. Remember the protests staged by Hispanic immigrants?

Or to put it into perspective, unlike last year, the coming legislation will likely deal extensively with 'amnesty' for illegals already here. The tradeoff will likely be to trade THOSE 'quotas' for other quotas. The goal will be to sell a granting of official status to those already illegally here and the tradeoff will be reflected in who can come. I'm not saying that there will be stricter limits placed on legal immigration, but I can't see throwing open the doors either, especially when the 'sell' will have to be to politicians that think granting amnesty to illegals is JUST that already.

Both parties will seek common grounds. I don't agree to your opinion that quotas for legal immigrants will be given to illegal immigrants. I tend to side with the Republican view that is for them to go back and come back here on a working visas and wait their turns to avail of the immigrant visas. Just all the foreign nurses did without breaking any laws.

Democrats are likely to give amnesty to illegal immigrants.

I have nothings against illegal immigrants . Heck, if the Philippines, a former colony of the USA, is just beside the US border there would be more Filipinos here than Latinos. :lol2:

What you need to understand about this election is that many of the new Democrats won by running very conservative platforms and they won in very conservative districts. The leadership of our gov't just had a huge change, but the net affect on the political views of the actual legislators is very little changed.

Agree, the only way for Democrats to win in conservatives districts is for them to present conservative candidates. With more Americans, conservative and liberals alike, tired of the Iraq war and other national issues would vote for Democrats becvause they said they have the solution to these problems and Iraq instead of "stay the course" policy.

I have been following the news and other articles that independent conservatives , even republicans voted Democrats because they want change.

But immigration is a different issue especially when it comes to legal immigration and that is why I said there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Rep · Nov 8, 2006

I wouldn't count on it.
Nancy Pelosi, the future House Speaker, represents San Francisco. The California Nurses' Association, the most powerful nurses' union in the state ... staunchly opposes increased foreign nurse immigration.
http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/september/page.jsp?itemID=28182028
They also happen to be headquartered in San Francisco.
If Pelosi and other Demos want to take on CNA ... good luck. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, learned this the hard way.
The Democrats are known for doing stupid things but, I seriously doubt that Pelosi and company are going to be stupid enough to take on CNA with this issue.
It would be political suicide ... at least in their home state.
:typing

There are many Filipino and foreign nurses who are members of the CNA.

Sheri257 · Nov 8, 2006

There are many Filipino and foreign nurses who are members of the CNA.

So? Look at CNA's position. It's pretty clear.

Filipino and foreign nurses have the same interests as any other CNA nurse who is protected by union contracts. I would find it hard to believe that any of them would want cheap foreign labor coming in and under cutting their hard won pay raises.

:typing

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Nov 8, 2006

It is only this year that the Sourthern border became an issue because of illegal immigration. Remember the protests staged by Hispanic immigrants?

Are you kidding? You think that the Southern Border only just became an issue this year?

Yes, I remember the protests, as many of them happened in my town. If I remember correctly, they backfired.

Immigration is a hot button issue for sure, but I don't see anybody in government easing up on it. I just wouldn't get too excited if I were you. Government is a slow process.

Sheri257 · Nov 8, 2006

Remember the protests staged by Hispanic immigrants?

CardiacRN is right ... those protests backfired in a major way.

Just because they get a lot of news coverage doesn't mean they gain any ground with registered voters. In fact, they lost ground.

:typing

Rep · Nov 9, 2006

So? Look at CNA's position. It's pretty clear.
Filipino and foreign nurses have the same interests as any other CNA nurse who is protected by union contracts. I would find it hard to believe that any of them would want cheap foreign labor coming in and under cutting their hard won pay raises.
:typing

From your point that makes those Filipino/foreign nurses against nurses immigration when in fact they came here through that process. I think most of them are in favor for nurses visas and it just that they are in minority and and the majority made the decision.

Rep · Nov 9, 2006

Are you kidding? You think that the Southern Border only just became an issue this year?
Yes, I remember the protests, as many of them happened in my town. If I remember correctly, they backfired.
Immigration is a hot button issue for sure, but I don't see anybody in government easing up on it. I just wouldn't get too excited if I were you. Government is a slow process.

Sure I know that the Southern border is an old issue but it only became sensationalized when congress wanted to pass a bill that makes it a felony to stay here illegally. That's when the protest came out.

Is there something good that came about it? Nothing except for the border fense that still waiting to be built.

Unless Americans are willing to pick up tomatoes, clean toilets etc , illegal immigration will still be an issue.

But the issue here I am pointing about is legal immigration.

I am seeing through a looking glass different from yours and I think that with a new set up in Congress, things will be different for foreign nurses and that retrogression won't last long. And granting government moving in it toes in a year time makes it short time indeed for us.

RNKay31 · Nov 9, 2006

IMHO, I thing the Demos in the house and Senat means a good thing to foreign nurses as well as us immigration, and even Bush said that today, so lets keep our fingers cross