Institute for Sound Public Policy Newsletter - Rule-Making, Fist-Shaking - Who’s Faking and Who’s Stepping Up

Dear {name}:

Eight days ago, Vice President Vance while addressing blue-collar union workers in Middleton, Ohio, spoke of a white-collar IT worker, Kevin Patrick Flanagan who twenty-three years ago, committed suicide after training his H-1B visa replacement at Bank of America. Stories and even individual words in a speech such as this are akin to shelf space in a supermarket. Just as retailers pay for endcap space to catch shoppers' eyes, politicians place their most resonant stories at the most visible points in a speech. The placement of Kevin’s story in the Vice President’s speech wasn’t arbitrary. It was purposeful and an important signal as we enter mid-term elections.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a proposed rule in the federal register imposing a $103,265 fee on all cap-subject H-1B petitions that would even include master's-degree holders. Now it won’t include institutions exempt from the cap but, it will cover the 85,000 that aren’t. Moreover, it will apply to those already in the US who may be on another status such as a foreign student on an F-1 visa. This new source of revenue would fund immigration courts and ICE. Public comment period is now open.

As reported on the law firm Fragomen’s website, the Office of Management and Budget has completed its review of a proposed DHS rule change that, if finalized, would eliminate the discretionary, maximum 60-day grace period accorded to certain principal nonimmigrants and their dependents if the principal’s employment ceases before their period of stay expires. In keeping with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), the proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register for a public comment period. Stay tuned for more details.

The Department of Labor’s Inspector General swooped into Texas to investigate “ghost office” fraud that included a single building reportedly found more than 500 approved H-1Bs linked to a single office and other offices found to be empty. Also in Texas, Congressman Chip Roy sent a letter asking for details regarding Texas State University’s notice to renew a foreigner’s H-1B visa in the midst of a statewide moratorium imposed by Governor Abbott on colleges receiving public funding.

As we get closer to November we expect the to see the administration show it has been keeping its campaign promises as well as demonstrating to the electorate that it is listening to them and prioritizing their concerns. As I reported on in the past, ending employment visas such as H-1B and work authorization programs such as STEM Optional Practical Training are not only important to the electorate but, winning issues for Republican candidates.

There are many predicting the Republicans could lose control of the House and possibly the Senate. I don’t believe this as I believe they can increase their majorities in Congress. BUT, they have to deliver and deliver big on policy. MAGA has gotten very good at separating the “noise” from the “signal” and will not be placated with rhetoric, photo ops and attempts to affect policy that are only too easily overturned by the courts. Well thought out rule making at the administrative level, prosecutions, debarment of large firms that employ H-1B visa workers when they are caught red handed is what we need to see. We know when an elected is doing everything they can to stick up for American workers or is simply talking the talk without walking the walk. The former will be rewarded and the latter punished in November.

Onward,

Kevin Lynn

Executive Director, Institute for Sound Public Policy

Founder, U.S. Tech Workers

College Republicans of America chapter
at Clemson University

Kevin Lynn visited with the College Republicans of America chapter at Clemson University to discuss how STEM OPT and the H-1B visa programs were ripping out the bottom and middle rungs of the career ladder for almost all the white-collar professional jobs their years of college would be preparing them for. This was our first campus visit of the semester. It was a great event followed by a fun dinner at Cane’s. Thank you Nolan for pulling it together.

Go Tigers!

Substack

When Labor Unions Forget Who They're
Supposed to Represent

There’s something profoundly backwards about a labor union called the United Auto Workers (UAW) joining universities and international-education lobbying groups in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to block a rule imposing greater scrutiny on temporary student visas. The UAW isn’t alone.

Mentions

White House OKs Cascade of White-Collar Migration Regulations

“The sky is falling in the immigration space,” said Nicolette Glazer, an immigration lawyer who favors the visa programs.

Feds Announce $103,265 Fee for Each New H-1B Visa

“This fee could also have the indirect benefit of better protecting the wages and job opportunities of U.S. workers,” the draft regulation says.

Indian Workers Seeking U.S Green Card Could Face 179-Year Wait, Report Finds

"Kevin Lynn, executive director of the D.C.-based Institute for Sound Policy, a self-described “America First” advocacy group, said he’s opposed to the H-1B visa system, arguing it allows companies to hire foreign workers for less than American workers."

We Added South Carolina to Our
List of States For the STEM OPT Petition

As of today, thousands have signed our individual state petitions to end STEM OPT. Since it was created by rule, not legislation, it can theoretically be abolished in 60 days through rule-making. It’s great to see these kinds of numbers, but we need tens of thousands of signatures. In addition to signing, ask your family, friends, colleagues to sign as well. Our goal is to deliver the petitions to the next Congress in early January 2027. Go to our website, find your state, and sign the petition. If you don't see your state, email us at info@instituteforsoundpublicpolicy.org
and we'll work with you to start one.

Sign the Petition

News You Can Use

DHS Proposes Additional H-1B Fee

The proposed fee would generate revenue to recover a portion of the federal government’s costs for administering the lawful immigration system. These costs include adjudication of immigration benefits, fraud detection and national security vetting, systems modernization, records and fee collection operations, immigration court operations, consular visa processing, labor standards enforcement, and interagency coordination.

DHS Proposal to Eliminate 60-Day Nonimmigrant Grace Period

The Office of Management and Budget has cleared a Department of Homeland Security proposed rule that would eliminate the discretionary, maximum 60-day grace period accorded to certain nonimmigrants whose employment ceases.

DHS to Propose New H-1B and OPT Fees

Though details will not be known until the proposals are released for publication and feedback, it is possible that the proposed fees could be significant.

Support Our Ongoing Fundraising Efforts

We invite you to support our fundraising. Monied interests that want to see a constant revolving door of cheap foreign labor, as well as the interests that support mass immigration that will serve them at the ballot box, don't support the work we do. For this reason, we rely on your generous support.

If half the people who follow us on social media were to choose to donate the equivalent of a cup of coffee a week, it would result in policies beneficial to workers making their way into legislation, rather than the schemes of the global elites. Please click on the link below, watch the video, and donate.

Donate

Visit us on Social Media:

Institute for Sound Public Policy
1701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202.543.5325
Email: klynn @ instituteforsoundpublicpolicy dot org
© 2024 Institute for Sound Public Policy
Unsubscribe | Change subscription