Utah Senator John Curtis introduced a new immigration bill that allows states to independently manage their migrant worker visa programs. This legislation includes a potential path to legal residency for some undocumented immigrants who have been in the U. S. since the end of 2016.
State-Run Visa Programs: The proposed bill enables states to create their own visa programs according to local labor needs, differing from current federal immigration processes.
Partnership Across Parties: This bill was introduced with support from Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, highlighting bipartisan interest in reforming immigration systems.
Legal Status for Some Immigrants: It provides a means for illegal immigrants in the U.S. since December 31, 2016, to obtain legal residency by passing a background check and paying a $1,000 fine.
New Visa Categories: The bill aims to establish a new nonimmigrant category for workers, investors, their spouses, and children under 18, valid for up to three years.
Regulations on Employment and Residence: States will determine specific employment and residence regulations, pending approval from the Department of Homeland Security.
Visa Caps and Penalties: Each state can issue a maximum of 5,000 visas per fiscal year, with additional visas available from a total pool of 245,000.States that see over 3% of visa holders overstaying must pay a $4,000 bond and will face a reduction in their future visa allocation.
Employer Advocacy: Curtis emphasized the need for such legislation by illustrating the difficulty Utah employers face in finding enough workers to meet growing job demands.
Legislative Background: The bill, designated as S.5197, was filed on July 30 and is currently with the Senate Judiciary Committee.It builds on previous efforts related to immigration reform dating back to 2011 and 2017.
Senator Curtis' proposal to allow states to create tailored visa programs represents a significant shift in the approach to U. S. immigration policy, aiming to better address local workforce needs while also providing opportunities for certain undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. The bill seeks to improve the balance between state demands for labor and federal oversight of immigration.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/08/03/john-curtis-state-visa-bill-amnesty-illegal-immigrants/
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