In a ruling that could halt one part of President Obama’s unilateral immigration scheme, a federal court has ruled that American tech workers have standing to challenge executive actions expanding the number and duration of visas given to foreign tech workers. The decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia suggests that at least some of Obama’s “executive memos” can be challenged in court.
The lawsuit, Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, was brought on behalf of several American workers displaced by foreign workers in a program called “Optional Practical Training” that allows aliens with student F-1 visas to take jobs. Employers don’t have to pay them a prevailing wage, and they are exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes. John Miano, attorney for the American plaintiffs, said that this program “is likely now to be America’s largest guest-worker program. Yet, it has never been authorized by Congress.”
Source: http://watchdog.org/185284/obama-tech-immigration/
Posted 12/3/14 by Margaret Hull