Immigration Reform in Focus

As the November 3 US midterm elections approach, the debate over immigration and employment visas continues to take center stage. Nirav Sheth, a Republican candidate for the House of Representatives from Washington's 7th Congressional District, has voiced strong support for the administration's crackdown on immigration policies, specifically targeting the misuse of H-1B employment visas.

Sheth, a 40-year-old entrepreneur and veteran, is challenging Democratic incumbent Pramila Jayapal. Speaking on the ongoing policy shifts, Sheth argued that numerous companies sponsoring H-1B visas operate as shell entities without legitimate products or public market contributions, effectively exploiting existing loopholes in the system.

Addressing Systemic Loopholes and Fraud

While major technology giants—including Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Adobe, and Infosys—have faced increased scrutiny and temporary suspensions regarding permanent residency programs like PERM, Sheth maintained that legitimate operations and academic institutions are not the primary targets of these regulatory actions.

"The attack has been happening due to fake degrees, fake documentation, and immigration fraud," Sheth stated. He emphasized that qualified professionals from India and globally who possess proper education and documentation are frequently sidelined due to fraudulent practices within the system.

Addressing the lengthy processing times for Green Cards—which can span a decade or more for major employers like Microsoft—Sheth advocated for a comprehensive, case-by-case review process rather than sweeping generalizations.

The Call for Rigorous Systemic Overhaul

Sheth stressed the urgent need for a rigorous overhaul of the United States immigration framework to better accommodate skilled workers who contribute directly to the national economy while systematically rooting out bad actors.

"We need, especially in the United States, a rigorous immigration reform where actual people who actually want to work and be a part of the economy can stay here without those kinds of events or incidents, and the people who actually just want to use or abuse the system, we can root them out," Sheth remarked.

Born and raised in India, Sheth immigrated to the US in 2008 as a computer and electrical engineering student before serving four years in the United States Marines as an aircraft mechanic and military police officer, followed by a career in law enforcement.