Eric Thomas or Frances Cox 202-822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 22, 2007

Compete America Continues to Call for Tough Visa Enforcement and Anti Fraud Measures

Washington, D.C. – Compete America today reiterated its longstanding position that fraud and willful misrepresentation in the H-1B visa and employment-based green card systems should never be tolerated, and that those who abuse the visa system should face an appropriate combination of civil and/or criminal penalties.

Compete America has always called for strict enforcement of the law, however, it is an unfortunate fact of life that unethical and fraudulent behavior does exist. We endorse the call by Senator Charles Grassley and Representative Lamar Smith for the Department of Labor to investigate any and all reports of fraud in the H-1B and employment-based (EB) green card system, as it undermines the real purpose and intent of these visa programs for law-abiding companies that depend on the world’s best talent to innovate and create jobs in the U.S.

Employers who fail to comply with current Department of Labor regulations governing the H-1B visa and EB green card programs are already subject to investigation, civil and administrative penalties, payment of back wages, and debarment from participating in key immigration programs.

In addition to current law, Senator Grassley and Senator Richard Durbin have offered over a dozen specific new provisions aimed at deterring fraud and enhancing enforcement that are contained in the Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. An additional measure is also in the Cantwell-Kyl amendment that Compete America supports.  These provisions will provide important tools for the Department of Labor to strengthen its enforcement efforts and help further ensure that U.S. workers are not displaced. 

Highly educated, foreign-born professionals infuse U.S. companies with needed talent, increase innovation and help keep and create high paying jobs in the United States.  The members of Compete America follow the letter and spirit of the law, and urge the Senate to pass much needed reforms to the H-1B visa and EB green card programs.

For more information on how highly educated immigration benefits America, please visit www.competeamerica.org. 

Compete America (www.competeamerica.org) is a coalition of corporations, educators, research institutions and trade associations concerned about legal, employment-based immigration and committed to ensuring that the United States has the highly educated workforce necessary to ensure continued innovation, job creation and leadership in a worldwide economy.