Question:
A three-year investigation by the INS and State Dept. found rampant fraud in
the H-1(a) nurse visa program under which aliens were recruited as nurses
through several agencies - but that continued after the program allowing it
ended in 1995.
Thousands of alien nurses - most Filipino - are still in this country
illegally and working here illegally after being brought in after 1995; one of
the largest recruiters of foreign nurses paid them $5-9 hourly - instead of the
legally-required prevailing U.S. wage of $14 hourly. Billy Jewell plead guilty
to falsely certifying a shortage of American nurses in the U.S. - at a time
when hospitals were downsizing large numbers of nurses; only by such a
certification could such alien nurses be given visas. Fraudulently imported
nurses ended up working in 35 or more states.
The federal government has indicted Nelson Sin, a politcally-connected
Filipino and legal alien in the U.S., on 274 counts for his role in this scam;
he has fled back to the Phillipines and the U.S. is seeking extradition on
charges including conspiracy, money laundering, and immigration fraud.
Meanwhile, why not create jobs for the many American-born nurses downsized
out of jobs - by deporting every alien nurse who his here illegally? (One
hospital in Pennsylvania alone laid off thousands.)
Answer:
-I agree. The US is the easiest place for anyone to work. Meanwhile if we want
to go and work somewhere Americans are put through the wringer to try and get a
permit. Even places like England or Germany.
There was a program established by Congress in 1989 that allowed health care
facilities to petition for foreign help. That opened the door for all of this.
-When I have applied for jobs one of the papers I had to fill out was a
verification of citizenship, or legal status in the USA. Does this paper go
into the circular file? Do employers follow up on this info? I thought there
was a fine the Feds impose on an employer who employs an illegal alien?? Maybe
employers aren't anxious to find the illegals because 1) they would have to
fill the vacant position with a legal resident and pay the going scale wage,
and 2) pay the Feds the fine. Just some thoughts on this outrageous
situation.
