What Impact May the 2011 Budget Have On Immigration?

The 2011 budget is not yet complete and President Obama has invited Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Reid to continue to meet and finalize the budget. Looking at the likely effect of the budget impasse on immigration issues, bear in mind that consular processing was entirely halted the last time the government shut down over the budget in the mid-90s. Once consular processing resumes, delays will likely persist for some time. A similar situation is possible with PERM as well. Even if the 2011 budget is agreed to, the 2012 budget is still an open question, due to the ballooning deficits and the different approaches of the two political parties to the same. So, politics again may have a detrimental effect on immigration. One can only hope that someone will soon acknowledge and recognize how important a just and functioning immigration system is for both the economy as well as for national security………….