Senator vows to end US green card caps for Indians amid rising hurdles

A U.S. senator has pledged to introduce legislation that would end per-country limits on employment-based green cards, a move aimed at addressing the growing backlog for Indian professionals. The current system caps green cards at 7% per country, causing decades-long waits for applicants from high-demand nations like India.

The senator criticized the existing caps as unfair and detrimental to U.S. economic competitiveness, arguing that skilled workers from India face disproportionate hurdles. The proposed bill seeks to replace the per-country quota with a first-come, first-served system, prioritizing applicants by priority date rather than nationality.

Indian nationals account for the largest share of employment-based green card applicants, with over 300,000 waiting in backlog as of 2023. Many face waits exceeding 50 years under current rules, prompting calls for reform from tech industry groups and immigration advocates.

The legislation faces uncertain prospects in a divided Congress, where previous attempts at comprehensive immigration reform have stalled. The senator expressed hope that bipartisan support for high-skilled immigration could advance the bill, though no co-sponsors have been announced yet.