【移民政策】美國ABC新聞網(wǎng)揭開EB-5戲劇性延期內(nèi)幕

　　現(xiàn)行的EB-5法律，在由國會重量級議員Grassly等人草擬并勢在必成地推動EB-5改革提案后，在該提案經(jīng)無數(shù)次討論、對抗、修改及業(yè)內(nèi)高手每天跟蹤分析解讀之后，在無數(shù)投資人搶時(shí)間辦貸款、交申請之后，于15日宣布無變化延期到2016年9月30日。這種戲劇性的變化，估計(jì)是99.9%的人都意想不到的。這背后當(dāng)然是利益集團(tuán)的博弈，但是這最后扭轉(zhuǎn)乾坤的巨手又是誰伸出來的呢?答案有些出乎意料。

　　12月17日，美國數(shù)家媒體發(fā)表了內(nèi)幕性報(bào)導(dǎo)，其中美國ABC新聞網(wǎng)的報(bào)道最為詳細(xì)，現(xiàn)在就節(jié)選主要情節(jié)分享給大家。全文鏈接為 http://abcnews.go.com/Business/lobbyists-declare-victory-visa-reform-measure-dies-quietly/story?id=35818901。

　　以下是兆龍移民對本文進(jìn)行的獨(dú)家翻譯及評論：

　　There are well-documented national security concerns and abuse of the program, and a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on reform,” Sen. Chuck Grassley told ABC News in a written statement. “It should have been a no-brainer, but now it’s a missed opportunity.
　　參議員Chuck Grassley在提供給美國ABC新聞網(wǎng)的書面聲明中表示，“目前已經(jīng)存在證據(jù)確鑿的國家安全以及濫用EB-5計(jì)劃的相關(guān)問題，而兩黨和兩院也就EB-5改革計(jì)劃達(dá)成了一致意見。這原本應(yīng)該是一個(gè)非常容易做出的決定，但現(xiàn)在我們錯(cuò)過了機(jī)會。” (筆者認(rèn)為雖然Grassley是保守派，但他的一些主張是值得思考的，比如大力防止欺詐等，這是有利于保護(hù)投資者。)

　　Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, who worked with Grassley on the program's overhaul, said the EB-5 program has "long been abused and is in dire need of reform.” "We pushed aggressively for its inclusion in the omnibus appropriations bill but congressional leadership inexcusably rejected this much-needed reform," he said.
　　佛蒙特州參議員Patrick Leahy一直以來與Grassley議員致力于EB-5計(jì)劃的徹底改革，他認(rèn)為EB-5計(jì)劃“已經(jīng)被長期濫用且急需改革”，并表示“我們積極提議將EB-5計(jì)劃改革納入政府綜合撥款法案中，但國會領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層不可原諒地否決了這一迫切需要的改革。” (筆者認(rèn)為這位昔日的EB-5的最大支持者，倒是應(yīng)當(dāng)先看看自己的州是不是已經(jīng)有對EB-5的濫用了，避免燈下黑是永遠(yuǎn)的任務(wù)。)

　　At the Capitol, the legislation was defeated by a group of lawmakers led by New York Democrat Chuck Schumer, who argued that security improvements were a good idea, but the way the reform was written would unfairly hurt investments in his home state.
　　在國會大廈，改革提案在以紐約州民主黨人Chuck Schumer為首的一群立法者的反對下被否決了，Chuck Schumer認(rèn)為改革能夠改善國家安全問題固然可取，但所提議的改革方式將會不公平地對紐約州的投資造成傷害。

　　Regardless of how it died, lobbying groups cheered the reforms' downfall Tuesday night. A lobbyist for one group, called the "EB-5 Investment Coalition." posted a message on Twitter declaring victory.
　　無論改革因何種原因而受到挫敗，游說組織已經(jīng)于周二晚間開始慶祝改革的失敗。其中名為“EB-5投資聯(lián)盟”的游說組織的一名說客在推特上發(fā)布了一條宣告勝利的信息。 (這里是指由我們行業(yè)的好朋友、蘇豐原蘇總參與領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的名為EB-5IC的組織，與筆者同樣畢業(yè)于GW法學(xué)院的Laura Reiff律師為該組織主席。)

　　So proud of our EB-5 Investment Coalition... TY [Thank You] Schumer Cornyn and Flake," it read, referring to other opposition lawmakers Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.
　　該條信息是這樣寫的：“我為我們的組織(EB-5投資聯(lián)盟)感到驕傲，謝謝你們，Schumer Cornyn and Flake (譯者注：即指其他反對派立法者德克薩斯州議員John Cornyn和亞利桑那州議員Jeff Flake)。”

　　Unexpected Defeat in Congress
　　在國會遭受意料之外的失利

　　Leahy and Grassley, both senior members of their parties in high ranking positions, said they thought they had the support needed to push through the reform measure. But during weeks of discussions behind closed doors, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) emerged as a staunch opponent, arguing that the changes to the program would unfairly limit the amount of EB-5 money that could be used on projects in New York City. That’s because of a provision in the reform proposal intended to more narrowly direct the investment money to projects in low income areas.
　　同在各自黨內(nèi)身居高位的資深議員Leahy和Grassley都表示他們原以為已經(jīng)獲得了促使改革提案通過的足夠支持。但在持續(xù)數(shù)周的閉門討論中，紐約州議員Chuck Schumer成為了改革提案的堅(jiān)定反對者。他認(rèn)為改革提案將不公平地限制紐約市獲得EB-5項(xiàng)目資金，因?yàn)楦母锾岚钢邪�含了將投資資金更嚴(yán)格地投入到低收入地區(qū)的項(xiàng)目中的相關(guān)規(guī)定。

　　At present, close to 20 percent of the investment funds raised by foreign investors seeking visas winds up backing a New York City development. Many of those projects include glitzy high rise buildings in wealthier parts of New York. But even those projects, Schumer argued, were able to create large numbers of jobs in neighboring, low income parts of the city.
　　目前，尋求獲得移民簽證的外國投資者籌集的投資資金中的有近20%最終投入到紐約市的開發(fā)項(xiàng)目中，而其中包括了許多在紐約的富人區(qū)建造奢華高樓的項(xiàng)目。但Schumer議員認(rèn)為，即使是這些項(xiàng)目也能夠?yàn)榕c紐約相鄰的低收入地區(qū)創(chuàng)造大量的就業(yè)崗位。

　　A spokesperson for the senator told ABC News that Schumer did not oppose efforts to eliminate national security and fraud risks associated with the program.
　　Schumer議員的一位發(fā)言人向美國ABC新聞網(wǎng)透露， Schumer議員并不反對消除與EB-5計(jì)劃關(guān)聯(lián)的國家安全隱患和欺詐風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。

　　“Sen. Schumer supports reforms that will bring transparency and accountability to the EB-5 program, but strongly believes that the EB-5 program should continue to act as a catalyst for thousands upon thousands of jobs throughout New York,” said Matt House, a Schumer spokesman. “The proposed reforms would have crippled the program and would have held back job growth in urban and low-income areas in cities across the country.”
　　“Schumer議員對能夠提高EB-5計(jì)劃透明度和可靠性的改革持支持態(tài)度，但仍然堅(jiān)信EB-5計(jì)劃應(yīng)該繼續(xù)成為在紐約州全州創(chuàng)造成千上萬就業(yè)崗位的催化劑。”Schumer議員的一位發(fā)言人Matt House表示。“這次的改革提案將會使EB-5計(jì)劃陷入癱瘓，并且會抑制美國城市地區(qū)和低收入地區(qū)的就業(yè)崗位增長。”

　　Negotiators said Schumer attracted support from Republican Sens. Cornyn and Flake. Instead of passing the reform measures, they agreed, they would extend the program for another 10 months without making any changes.
　　談判人士稱Schumer議員獲得了共和黨議員Cornyn和Flake的支持并達(dá)成了一致意見，即反對改革提案，并將EB-5計(jì)劃在不做任何改動的條件下再延長10個(gè)月。

　　Grassley expressed deep disappointment in the outcome.
    　Grassley議員對最終結(jié)果感到十分失望。

　　“Leadership allowed the negotiations to be hijacked by a small number of special interest groups who wanted the status-quo and the necessary reforms were shoved aside,” he told ABC News.
　　他向美國ABC新聞網(wǎng)表示，“國會領(lǐng)導(dǎo)層默許了談判受到一小部分希望維持現(xiàn)狀而將必要改革推到一邊的特殊利益群體的脅迫。”

　　結(jié)語：EB-5現(xiàn)有提案雖然延期了，但這次幾乎通過的改革提案會不會在2016年9月30日前卷土重來?答案是：可能會。所有EB-5投資人必須引起注意的是：從現(xiàn)在起到2016年9月30日期間的任何時(shí)候，EB-5投資移民仍有漲價(jià)的可能。從此次幾經(jīng)曲折的“9.30變法年度大戲”，想必大家早已見識了美國國會各種利益集團(tuán)博弈力量的強(qiáng)大，也親自體驗(yàn)了一把移民政策的變化無常(大家還可自行回憶加拿大投資移民的一刀切政策)。也正是因此，50萬美金留給大家的時(shí)間絕不是板上釘釘?shù)?個(gè)月。EB-5逃過漲價(jià)一劫，但是此刻并非輕松一刻，有剛性需求的家庭，還是應(yīng)早辦理早安全!

　　還有，這只大老虎依然對大家虎視眈眈，在未來的幾個(gè)月，已經(jīng)持續(xù)一段時(shí)間的遞案高峰雖會稍有松弛，但絕不會崖斷式降低，所以越早遞案，越早拿到優(yōu)先日期，才能越降低帶來的影響。最后的50萬美金黃金時(shí)代，且行且珍惜!