The Pilgrims, who were immigrants to America, celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621 in Massachusetts to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables this year, many of us, immigrants or their descendants, are reminded that President-elect Obama will need to address the issue of broken immigration policy. Rather than having a logical immigration system in place, we see sporadic raids by immigration officials on businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers, leading to deportations that can tear families apart. One of the most contentious aspects of the immigration problem is what to do about the approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants. Many individuals are not expected to go back to their home countries, even in the current challenging economic situation. It is not desirable for them to return either. They are employed in positions that are unpopular among Americans, including high-skill roles like scientific and medical research, as well as low-skill jobs like gardening, car washing, and cleaning. In 2007, President Bush's comprehensive immigration plans did not receive approval from Congress, despite support from Democratic and Republican leaders. The question now is whether Obama will be able to achieve what Bush could not. Obama's proposal is similar to the failed bill, including increased border protection, more visas for new immigrants, penalties for employers hiring undocumented workers, and eventual citizenship for undocumented workers already in the country after paying a fine. While this would be a significant improvement, with unemployment on the rise, if Congress does not pass immigration reform, narrower action could still benefit American labor markets. This could involve authorizing the Department of Labor to determine the number of work permits and temporary visas issued each quarter without congressional approval. The USCIS follows legal guidelines to grant 65,000 H-1b temporary visas to skilled workers, as per the Labor Department's certification. Out of around 630,000 applications approved by employers, only a fraction are selected. H-1b visa holders must leave the US once their employment ends. Despite these figures, many skilled foreign students studying in the US, often with American financial support, are unable to secure jobs in the country. Foreign workers must depart, bringing along their intellectual accomplishments and valuable expertise. Their presence is advantageous for the American economy as they contribute by paying taxes and ensuring the functionality of various establishments such as laboratories, hotels, high-tech exhibitions, and construction sites. If they are forced to leave, these operations will suffer. In 2009, the H-1b visa cap of 65,000 was filled one week after applications began on April 1, 2008, which is a small portion of the U.S. labor force of 154 million. Even if the cap were raised to 150,000, it would still be less than one tenth of 1% of the labor force. This would still result in the majority of applicants being denied admission due to the low likelihood of success. Congress is not well-equipped to constantly change laws based on economic fluctuations, but the Labor Department has the necessary expertise to assess changing labor markets and adjust visa quotas accordingly. It is suggested that Congress should allow the Labor Department to make quarterly decisions on the issuance of visas based on the current unemployment rate. This approach would ensure that visas are adjusted according to the economic conditions without putting strain on U.S. workers or community resources. Allowing the Labor Department to manage visas in this manner would benefit America and potentially help President-elect Obama move past the contentious immigration issues that have divided the country in recent years. This would be a reason to express gratitude next Thanksgiving. Diana Furchtgott-Roth, who previously served as the chief economist at the U.S. Department of Labor and is now a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, shared her personal opinions in this statement. Contact Diana Furchtgott-Roth at dfr@hudson.org.