Rio Grande Valley lawmaker to propose new immigrant worker visa program for small businesses

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, expects to soon file legislation in Washington D.C. that could enable small businesses to sponsor long-time employees in a new worker visa program. 

The Save the American Workforce Act would open the door for companies to sponsor undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for at least five years and have no criminal record. That includes driving under the influence, or DUI, offenses. Each worker would pay a $1,000 administrative penalty for breaking immigration law. 

The program would not offer any pathway to U.S. citizenship for workers, but rather allow a temporary three-year long visa and offer temporary legal status to unmarried children of eligible workers under 21 years old. The three-year visa can be renewed at least three times. Any worker who seeks to change jobs during the visa program would have 180 days to have a new employer sponsor them and file the paperwork for that position. 

U.S. Rep. Gonzalez drafted the legislation in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents targeting immigrants at work, especially in agriculture, construction, and the hospitality industry, according to a memo he shared with local business leaders.