WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Non-Latino immigrants said the reform bill may axe visa programs they use heavily.

As foreign nationals pour their savings into small businesses in the U.S. to acquire temporary visas. The hope is that they’ll ultimately find a pathway to citizenship. But it’s not clear that the immigration reform bill makes that path any easier.

The advocates say the bill is short on resources for protecting W Visa holders from wage theft, safety hazards and whistleblowing retaliation.

For the first time in years, American companies blew past the cap on H-1B visa petitions to sponsor educated, foreign workers. Many say that’s a sign of economic recovery, but some say the program is rife with abuses.

Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said Monday the “Gang of Eight” could propose a comprehensive immigration reform bill by the end of the week. 

Legislators say a senate proposal on immigration is underway and could be ready next week. 

 U.S. companies start petitioning Monday for H-1B visas to bring in temporary workers with specialized skills during the next federal fiscal year. There’s a good chance petitions will exceed the federal limit within the week, but questions remain whether immigration policy is leaving smaller companies in limbo.