Monday Immigration Bulletin: Big Freshman Energy

Good evening! Late bulletin tonight after a long day of news gathering, so let's get to it: the incoming class of House freshman includes several migrant (and migrant-adjacent) members … Secretary Mayorkas returns to Congress on Tuesday for hearings before the House Homeland Security Committee … and Senator Durbin is asked by reporters about immigration in the lame duck and country caps … this is your Monday immigration news bulletin…

Two New Congressional Immigrants

The “first day of school” vibes were strong as new members-elect arrived for freshman orientation at the Capitol on Monday. I asked some of the new immigrant members-elect about how their experience will inform their policy during the 118th Congress.

For this evening, I'll start with two such members-elect ... both Democrats ... both immigrants ... one from the midwest … the other from the West Coast.

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - Shri Thanedar (MI-13)

An immigrant from India, Thanedar won the open seat for Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s district after the incumbent had her home redrawn. He will represent parts of Detroit, Dearborn, and Livonia in the next Congress … but Thanedar told me his immigration journey began four decades ago at the U.S. consulate in Mumbai.

“She had the authority to either approve or disapprove,” said Thanedar of the consular official who handled his application for an education visa to study for a PhD at the University of Akron in 1978. Unfortunately for Thanedar, the consular official (“Virginia”) did not approve his visa.

“That’s the only time I fainted,” recalled Thanedar. “I fell to the ground. When I woke up, she was standing over me with water. I was so heartbroken. At the time I had a lot depending on my visa. I was coming to the U.S. to do better for my family which was in dire poverty. My reason for coming here was to get an education, get a job, and help my family survive.”

Thanedar applied twice more, this time with a letter of support from a professor at the University of Akron. Both times his application was rejected again. So Thanedar applied a fourth time. “Back then you could reapply as often as you wanted,” said Thanedar.

When Thanedar went to the consulate to check on his application, a different consular official asked Thanedar for his passport. “They had never asked me for my passport before. I asked why they needed it. He said, ‘I can’t give you a visa if I don’t have your passport,” Thanedar recalled, smiling.

So what was different about the fourth application? Well, it turns out that Virginia had gone on vacation and her assistant had processed Thanedar’s fourth application. “He thought my documents were perfectly fine,” said Thanedar, lamenting how arbitrary the process was.

Over four decades later, Thenadar — now a multi millionaire businessman and proud Michigander — arrives as a freshman in Congress as one of a handful of members with a science PhD (Rep. Bill Foster being another).

When it comes to immigration policy, Thanedar said that Congress needs to focus on two things: make sure that the domestic workforce has the training for “tomorrow’s jobs” and encourage immigration to fill “skilled workforce” shortages.

NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - Robert Garcia (CA-42)

Born in Lima, Peru, Garcia is currently serving his second term as the first openly gay mayor of Long Beach, California.

“I’m a product of the last immigration reform bill,” said Garcia, referring to the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) signed into law by President Ronald Regan in 1986. “My parents immigrated here when I was five.”

Garcia didn’t become a citizen until he was 21 years-old. “Immigration reform, to me, is the single most important issue as an immigrant coming into the House,” said Garcia, adding: “I’m just very concerned that it hasn’t been a priority.”

Mayorkas Returns to Capitol Hill

Mayorkas and FBI Director Christopher Wray will testify Tuesday before the House Homeland Security Committee which is chaired by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS).

Expect tomorrow’s hearing to be a preview of what GOP rule could look like in the lower chamber, with Republican committee members grilling Mayorkas about the border.

For months, House Republicans have been making overtures about impeaching Mayorkas (among others … including Biden) should they win control of the lower chamber when all the midterm votes are finally counted.

Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) will release a report Tuesday by the Senate Special Select Committee on Investigations that focuses on the medical mistreatment of migrant women in ICE detention centers.

It’s unclear if Mayorkas will be asked to respond to Ossof’s report. The freshman Democrat has been working on this investigation for 18 months … and if his tweets are any indication, expect his filmmaking skills to be on full display as he rolls out the committee findings.

Durbin on Lame Duck, Country Caps

Reporters asked Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) nearly a dozen questions today about immigration policy, most about the possibility of passing some form of immigrant relief during the lame duck.

“I’m taking every opportunity I can find to pass the Dream Act, DACA, and immigration reform,” Durbin told CNN reporter Daniella Diaz. “There is a sliver of a chance that we can initiate a conversation in the remaining weeks of the year.”

Durbin touted the Biden administration’s efforts to streamline asylum for migrants from Venezuela. “We are seeing a reduction of the people who are presenting themselves at the border,” said Durbin, crediting the White House policy changes.

I asked Durbin if the documented dreamer relief amendment could still be included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). "It could but it won't be because Grassley is not there," said Durbin.

I asked Durbin if the seven percent country-caps on green card allocations were racist against migrants from India, the country with the highest demand for employment-based visas.

“They're generating such highly educated people filling jobs in the United States … and the green card system has not kept up with this. They're critical to our economy, and their families are a critical part of this issue … but we just haven't increased the green cards … and that's wrong,” Durbin replied.

THAT’S IT FOR TONIGHT … THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING AND SUBSCRIBING … PLEASE KEEP SENDING ME YOUR NEWS TIPS … IF YOU ARE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THIS WEEK ADVOCATING FOR IMMIGRANT RELIEF I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!