Senators are still debating whether to allow tech companies to import more highly-skilled workers from abroad, a move many Democrats and labor leaders say would hurt American workers.
The bipartisan immigration bill currently being debated in the Senate already increases the number of H-1B visas available for companies like Facebook to hire foreign workers with technical skills from 65,000 to 180,000.
But tech companies and their allies say that still isn't enough. They're pushing for more, and Utah Republican Orrin Hatch introduced an amendment to the immigration bill that would do just that. Democrats are trying to push the bill through without addressing Hatch's amendment, as it's politically unpalatable to be seen as anti-tech.
"They have to be addressed," Hatch said. "I mean, I can't support the bill without that. Not that I'm that important, but I can't support the bill without straightening that out. The current language in the bill will push companies to send people overseas, to hire people overseas. We don't want that."
But labor groups say business has already gotten a fair deal in the compromises worked out in the bill so far. They will be able to hire more workers from overseas and will have federal assistance in verifying employment eligibility for workers hired at home, but they will need to pay all workers a competitive wage.
Lawmakers met last night to work on a deal, but no agreement was forthcoming, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont wants to move on, hoping to have something to offer the Senate at large by Memorial Day.
If Hatch and other Republicans, who feel that border security needs more enforcement and assurance, continue to stonewall, though, it may take much longer than that.
The longer a bill takes to make it to the floor of the Senate, the lower it's chances of passage. Which may be exactly what opponents are hoping.
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