Justice
The Insanely Clear-Cut Case for Region-Based Immigration Visas
State governments are in a far better position to understand the immigration needs of the towns and cities within their borders.
America’s cities are the engines of its growth. Though the immigration bill before Congress would help cities by increasing the flow of legal migrants, cities would be even better served by a bill that makes immigration decisions local. State governments are in a far better position to understand the immigration needs of the towns and cities within their borders. The federal government should allow them to sponsor region-based visas.
Region-based visas would be three-year, renewable non-resident visas. Like the H-1B visas for specialty employment, region-based visas would be dual-intent—the visa holders would be allowed to apply for permanent residency, and eventually citizenship, during their stay.