Patrick Leahy: “the Gregg amendment No. 4054 would undermine this tradition by significantly reducing the number of visas that are…”

“the Gregg amendment No. 4054 would undermine this tradition by significantly reducing the number of visas that are available under the Diversity Visa Program. Diversity visas were created in 1990 to ensure that America would always welcome immigrants from all parts of the globe, in the tradition of our forefathers. Diversity visas are available through a lottery system to applicants from nations that are underrepresented in other immigration programs. In order to apply, an individual must be from a country that has sent less than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the preceding 5 years. This special visa program allows immigrants from nations in Africa and from a number of developing nations to have a chance to apply to emigrate to the U.S. In 2004, diversity immigrants were just 5 percent all admissions of legal permanent residents, but diversity visas were 33 percent of all legal permanent resident admissions from Africa. For this reason, the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP oppose the Gregg amendment. In addition to African nations like Ethiopia and Nigeria, immigrants from Ireland, Albania, Poland, and Ukraine have benefited from the program. Diversity visa immigrants are not given a free pass to cross our borders and make a new life in American. Successful applicants must have at least a high school diploma and at least 2 years of work experience so that when they arrive in the U.S. they can contribute to the nation's economic health.…”