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Immigration news

Proposed US law would grant 125,000 more business green cards a year
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A group of four senators has proposed a new law that would see the US government grant 125,000 more employment-based green cards each year. The Startup Act 3.0 would grant 75,000 green cards (properly known as lawful permanent residence) annually to immigrants who start up companies and a further 50,000 to graduates from US universities with advanced science and engineering degrees. The act has been introduced in the Senate by Republicans Jerry Moran of Kansas and Roy Blunt of Montana and Democrats Mark Warner of Virginia and Chris Coons of Delaware.
US voters split but slightly in favour of immigration, poll finds
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The US electorate is fairly evenly split on many issues surrounding immigration but when asked whether immigrants are beneficial for the US overall, only 35% of those asked in a recent poll said they thought that they are harmful while 45% said that they believe that immigrants have been good for the US.

The poll was conducted for the largely anti-immigration Fox News and was conducted between 4th and 6th February 2013. The last time Fox carried out a similar poll in 2010, 41% thought immigrants were beneficial so the country appears to be becoming less worried by the idea of immigration.

Republican reintroduces STEM Jobs Act in US Congress
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A Republican Representative has reintroduced the STEM Jobs Act in the House of Representatives. If it becomes law, the Act will see 55,000 green cards (permanent resident permits) going to foreign born graduates of US universities in technical subjects each year.

Scottish universities blame UK immigration for fewer Indian students
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A group representing Scottish universities has criticised the UK immigration authorities for a fall in the number of students studying in Scotland from certain key developing countries including India, Pakistan and Nigeria.

Alistair Sim, director of Universities Scotland revealed on 12th February 2013 that the number of Indian students beginning their studies at Scottish universities in 2011-12 was down significantly compared to 2010-11. The Total of Indian students was down by 25.8%. The number from Pakistan was down by 24.9% and the number from Nigeria fell by 14.1%.

UK Prime Minister says he will limit immigrants' right to social benefits
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The Prime Minister of the UK, David Cameron, has told the House of Commons that he wants to limit the right of immigrants to claim benefits in the UK. This, he says, will show that the UK is not a 'soft touch' for those who come to the UK intending to take advantage of the UK social security system.

Speaking during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session on Wednesday 13th February 2013, Mr Cameron said that his government intended to re-examine the systems for housing, health, benefits and justice to see whether it would be possible to limit access to them.

UK minister calls for looser immigration rules for Chinese nationals
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The UK's Business Secretary, Vince Cable MP, says that the UK needs to attract wealthy Chinese immigrants, investors and tourists. To facilitate this Mr Cable said that the UK must simplify its visitor and business visa programmes.

Mr Cable wrote an article for UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph on 11th February 2013 in which he said 'China is the new economic superpower and we must treat its re-emergence with respect: as an opportunity rather than a threat.'