A top American Senator has sought an increase in the per annum cap on issuing of Green Cards, as several lawmakers had an intense debate on the Senate floor about what is more important for the US: maintaining diversity or attracting best talent.

Participating in a debate, Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, argued that increasing the existing Congress-mandated Green Card cap of 140,000 is the best available solution to end the long waiting period for talented young professionals, in particular from India, who as per the current trend would have to wait for 200 years to receive permanent residency.

While Republican Senator Mike Lee is seeking to remove the existing per country seven per cent cap, his party colleague from Florida, Senator Rock Scott, said such a move would have an adverse impact on diversity. He is seeking to have the cap based on language, so that diversity can be maintained in the US.

Currently, there is a backlog of almost one million foreign nationals lawfully residing in the US who have been waiting to receive Green Cards.