LOCAL 2865

2030 Addison Street, Suite 640A

Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: 510-549-3863 Fax: 510-549-2514
Email: uaw2865@uaw2865.org
www.uaw2865.org

November 30, 2018

To Whom It May Concern,

As a union composed of thousands of international student workers, our members are struggling against the shifting
tides of immigration policy at the national level. The availability of permanent resident visas or Green Cards for
graduating international students is a constant source of concern, and the existing backlog of unprocessed green card
applications demands addressing. A recent proposal from Congress, HR 392, meant to address the backlog by
converting the green card quota system into a first-come, first-serve system, bears detrimental effects for
international student workers within our workforce and beyond, and we encourage you to investigate alternatives to
the proposed reform.

The current immigration system imposes percentage caps on accepted green card applicants from each represented
country without attention to the proportions of applicants, meaning countries with a high number of applicants tend
to experience backlogs in processing, including many graduate student workers. The proposed resolution, pegged
onto a Homeland Security spending bill, will reduce the solidarity among international workers that we think is
required to create a vibrant, multicultural polity that is both nationally and socioeconomically diverse; by creating
increased competitiveness and a decades-long wait time for all new green-card applicants, this policy fails to address
the core issues facing most immigrants to this country and most international student workers. F1 and J1 Visa
holders (graduate student and post-doc workers) hoping to eventually obtain H1B Visas and Green Cards will be
placed behind a log of 400,000 current applicants, with no other avenues made available for maintaining
employment and visa status in the country.

The statewide international student committee within our Union has expressed its opposition to this bill that
promotes such a divisive strategy, making those from different countries of origin compete for a smaller pool of
available permanent residency positions once they leave the University. In particular, international students from
190 countries who previously were the beneficiaries of the country cap system will see their likelihood of obtaining
green cards within 10 years of applying shrink, along with all other new applicants. This may force international
students from a variety of countries to pursue work outside of the U.S. after graduating or to apply elsewhere in the
first place, given the bleak prospects of future residency in the US.

As a union in the academic sector, we know that research and teaching - the most basic goals of the University -
cannot be carried out without international student workers from many different countries. In pursuing a solution to
the backlog problem for applicants from countries affected by the current quota system - mainly China and India -
our Union would seek strategies that promote solidarity among all graduate students, diversity among our workforce
and mobility across borders. While there is no legislative silver bullet to address all of these metrics under the
current administration, we believe HR6794 is a promising alternative that begins to accomplish these goals -- it
amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow students to apply for visas with the dual intent of living in the
US long-term; it establishes a pre-certification procedure for employers to file multiple petitions simultaneously;
allows H1B visa holders to change jobs and apply for greencards, promoting economic mobility (a shift from current
conditions which require H1B visa holders to retain whatever job they have when they first gain the H1B visa).

We urge you to consider alternatives to HR 392, such as HR6794, as you begin to consider the immigration reforms
that this country desperately needs. We support reforms that encourage mobility, promote socioeconomic and
cultural diversity, and that reflect the diversity of the green card and visa applicant pool and promote access to
residency for all international student workers at UC.

Sincerely,
UAW 2865 Joint Council

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