Green Card Backlogs Targeted in Senate Democrats’ Legislation

More green cards per country could be issued annually under legislation Senate Democrats introduced Tuesday to tackle endemic delays in granting that permanent-resident status.

Processing delays and restrictions on the number of cards awarded annually have created huge backlogs that force immigrants to wait for years to come to the U.S. or secure permanent status.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the legislation would do away with employment-based and family-based green card backlogs within five years.

“The solution to this backlog is clear: increase the number of green cards,” Durbin said in a statement.

Only 226,000 family-based green cards and 140,000 ...