WASHINGTON, DC: The first hearing by the House Judiciary Committee on immigration on Capitol Hill, since the 2012 elections, made one thing amply clear: there is bipartisan agreement on immigration reforms for skilled workers, and tougher border patrol and enforcement, but the Republicans may think hard and twice when it comes to legalization of the more than 11 million illegal immigrants in the country.

Top experts who spoke at the Committee hearing included long-time advocates of increasing visas and permanent residency for skilled workers, like Vivek Wadhwa, Director of Research, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University , and Dr. Puneet Arora, vice president, Immigration Voice.

They called for hike in the number of H-1B visas issued every year, removing country specific caps for legal permanent residency, automatic green card to those earning masters and doctorate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and to allow spouses of legal workers to work, for H4 visa holders to get work permits.

“If you look at all the data, every single study that’s been done, it shows that when you bring skilled immigrants in they create jobs. Right now, we’re in an innovation economy. Skilled immigrants are more important than ever, not only to create jobs, but to make us innovative and help us solve major problems,” said Wadhwa.

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