Whenever you read the news, most of the analysis regarding immigration is directed towards the need for President Obama to please or displease Latinos in the immigration debate.  While it is true that Hispanics constitute the majority of immigrants in the United States, it is unfair to both Hispanics and non –Hispanics immigrants to pin everything good and bad of immigration on one community.

The truth is that in 2012 the Asians (including Indians, Chinese and other people of the subcontinent) surpassed Latinos by 18% and Asians also voted massively President Obama. If we are considering immigration reform this group should also be included in the debate.

While Latin America provides a massive number of foreign blue collar workers, the Asians especially Chinese and Indians are well known to provide the best engineers, doctors and research (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – STEM) to the United States.  United States, as a progressive country, needs such high skilled workers just like it needs skilled workers for certain blue collar jobs.  For this reason, the H1B visas and other types of employment visas are available. Yet the difficulties faced by many of such applicants are so huge including for their spouses and children on H4 visas, that it discourages the cream to even apply for a visa.

Despite the fact that Asians are now constituting a majority of the incoming immigrants, every time we hear a debate or someone bashing at immigrants, the media turns to Latinos and Hispanics.  This is not only unfair to some other immigrants but totally wrong towards Latinos.  Anti-immigration groups are quick to point out that in certain areas crimes are high because of Latino immigrants.  Nothing is more untrue than this statement.  It is the concept of equating immigration to Hispanics which is wrong.

Over the years, people have immigration from all around the world to form this great nation.  This nation is based on immigration and anybody who states something different is wrong.

For this reason, we believe any “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” (CIR) should actually be ‘comprehensive’ meaning it should include every immigrant community and implies that Asian skilled labor and other countries labor should be considered.  We also believe that all the so-called “ills” of immigration should not be pinned only on Hispanics because it will be unfair to the debate.

The solution is not difficult, it is just a matter of will.  If we make an intelligent decision of allowing an immigration system which looks at the needs of the United States while remaining the compassionate immigrant country which it has always been, we will benefit.

This article in now way diminishes the influence of the Latinos and the urgency of helping those who been working in this country peacefully and contributed to its economy.  It is only directed towards the media and other apparatus, which seems to equate immigration with only one group, which are the Hispanics. The truth is that immigration is much more diverse than this.

We call on a fair approach to immigration for both for Hispanics and non-Hispanics.

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Shah Peerally is an attorney licensed in California practicing immigration law and debt settlement. He has featured as an expert legal analyst for many TV networks such as NDTV, Times Now and Sitarree TV. Articles about Shah Peerally and his work have appeared on newspapers such as San Jose Mercury News, Oakland Tribune, US Fiji Times, Mauritius Le Quotidien, Movers & Shakers and other prominent international newspapers. His work has been commended by Congress women Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Lee. He has a weekly radio show on KLOK 1170AM and frequently participates in legal clinics in churches, temples and mosques. His law group, Shah Peerally Law Group, has represented clients all over the United States constantly dealing with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Custom Enforcement(ICE) and CBP (Customs Border Patrol (CBP) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This department was formerly known as the Immigration and Nationality Services (INS).