Visas as civil rights for foreigners

Here's a squib in the New York Times that inadvertently reveals much about Establishment prejudices on immigration.

Supporters of Immigration Bill Offer Amendment Focused on Women 

By JULIA PRESTON 

Saying the immigration overhaul bill now before the Senate would discriminate against future immigrants who are women, 13 female senators have introduced an amendment that would make it easier for foreign women to come to the United States under a new merit system in the legislation. 

The amendment is part of a new effort by supporters of the bill to attract votes by framing immigration as a women’s issue. Its lead sponsors are two Democrats, Senator Mazie K. Hirono of Hawaii and Senator Patty Murray of Washington, and sponsors also include a Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. ...

The amendment the senators introduced late Wednesday would make a major change to the bill now on the Senate floor. It would create a separate tier for professions typically held by women, under a new merit-based point system for future immigration that would place more emphasis on job qualifications and less on family ties, which are the priority in the current system. 

The senators said women in foreign countries often do not have the same educational and career opportunities as men. “We should not cement those inequalities into our immigration laws,” Ms. Hirono said.

Sure, argue the 13 female Senators, these foreign women are uneducated and unskilled, but, you see, that's the fault of their own countries, so, ergo, therefore, and hence, it's America's responsibility to rectify this discrimination by handing out more visas. To not do so would be discriminatory, and that's the worst thing in the world.

Ms. Murkowski (R-Her Daddy) said the amendment would open up more visas for women in health care professions, to alleviate chronic shortages in this country.

Ah, the chronic shortage of Americans willing to change bedpans for less than the market rate of pay. This shortage is so chronic that I've been hearing all about it since the 1970s. It's almost as chronic as my money shortage. All my life, I've suffered from a chronic shortage of money, which I define as having less money than, all else being equal, I wish I had. I think the Gang of Eight should do something about that.