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U.S. Senators have failed to abolish national origin discrimination which presently affects Indian born immigrants disparately making their lives unbearable as they labor in servitude and endless waiting with worry about their children and families, and failed to pass #S386
Petty squabbles over provisions have mired the bill in a swamp of despair that threatens to drown hardworking legal workers and their families. I have supported #S386 as a critical must-pass bill in light of Republicans objections to adding even a single new green card
@SenMikeLee has been the champion of #S386 in the great bipartisan tradition of Senator Hatch, whose office many years ago helped me bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats to successfully end the Widow Penalty in immigration law.
It took me and the concerted effort of widows across the country six long years (6 Years!) to change just 5 words in the immigration law to stop the deportation of widows of American citizens! Can you believe it? 6 years to change 5 words. Legislative change is much too difficult
And what about saving the widow of a U.S. Marine killed in combat? That took the Marine's mother going to protest at Senator Sessions office, because he blocked our bill back then.
With #S386 we have a history of squabbles including the hold placed on the bill by Senator David Perdue (R-GA) on September 19, 2019, and now a hold on October 17, 2019 by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
In December 2019 Lee and Durbin reached an agreement to amend the bill to keep prior language, eliminate per country limits, retain the do no harm provision, a 3 year transition, and also allow AOS filing for those with I-140 approval, a big benefit
But in March a draft removed the do no harm provision, which was key to protecting ROW. Secret negotiations as part of a unanimous consent (UC) process do not allow the public full view of the legislative process, which is antithetical to good government.
Many blame @SenatorDurbin for this, and if he has stood in the way of progress toward ending national origin discrimination then he is rightly to be condemned for playing politics with people's lives.
What can be done now? Those who are suffering under national origin discrimination must continue to peacefully protest and actively work toward passage of #S386. Calling names doesn't do any good and it is bad behavior. Focusing on only one side of the battle is not good strategy
If someone is lighting a fire to a building, do you continue to yell at them to put it out, or do you go to the people sitting on the sidelines who have buckets of water and ask for their help? If you believe Durbin is to blame, you can voice your opinion civilly
But don't forget to call out those who are sitting on the sidelines with buckets of water and who could help. Call on Republicans to get Durbin back to the negotiating table and get this bill for fairness passed.
