Washington: Barack Obama would sign a newborder security bill on Thursday, that has been termed as"discriminatory" by the Indian andAmerican companies, as it raises H-1B and L-1 visa fee mostly for Indiancompanies to generate funds for the USD 600 million to secure the US-Mexico border.
Obama, in a statement, welcomed the passageof the bill after the US Senate came back from its summer recess for a rarespecial session yesterday morning to approve it by a voice vote. Only twosenators attended the short session: Democrats Ben Cardin and Charles Schumer.
Under Senate rules, only two members must bepresent if legislation is unanimously agreed to by all others. The House ofRepresentatives had passed the bill early this week.
To offset the emergency border spending, theproposal would hike fees assessed on particular companies that exploit twocategories of visas. Firms with more than 50 employees and more than 50 percent of their employees onH-1B work visas would be affected.
"A handful of foreign-controlledcompanies that operation in the US, such as Wipro, Tata, Infosys and Satyamrelyon H1B and L visas to import foreign workers to the US.
The Senate Democrats' border securityproposal would increase the visa fees paid by these companies by roughly USD 2,000per visa application," said Senator Claire McCaskill.
Obama said that this action by Congressanswers his call to bolster the essential work of federal law enforcement officialsand improve their ability to partner with state,
local, and tribal law enforcement.
"The resources made available throughthis legislation will build upon our successful efforts to protect communities alongthe Southwest border and across the country. This new law will also strengthenour partnership with Mexico in targeting the gangs and criminal organisationsthat operate on both sides of the shared border," Obamasaid.
"So these steps will make an importantdifference as my administration continues to work with Congress toward bipartisancomprehensive immigration reform to secure our borders, and restoreresponsibility and accountability to our broken immigration system," hesaid