Partnership for a New American Economy

STEM Jobs Act Would Help Foreign-Born Innovators Keep Their Talents In U.S.

Star Telegram
November 28, 2012

This week, the U.S. House is expected to vote on a bill to create more visas for foreign-born students in science, technology, engineering and math. For me, and many others, it means the chance to fulfill our American dreams. For Americans, it means the chance to reverse a slow but steady brain drain of innovators.

The STEM Jobs Act, HR 6429, would provide students like me an opportunity to create jobs here in the United States, as opposed to other foreign countries.

I come from a family of Indian scientists and engineers who emphasized the importance of a first-rate education in these fields. This emphasis -- coupled with the rapid influx of U.S. engineering firms into my hometown of Bangalore -- shaped my decision to enroll in an undergraduate engineering program.

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Recognizing The Important Contributions Of Immigrants

The Hill
November 28, 2012

As is widely known, the United States has the strongest defense program in the world. Our military, Air Force, Navy and space program are unparalleled and our long-standing commitment to scientific and technological innovation in these areas has led to American leadership and success around the world. Crucial to this leading edge are the scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technology specialists (otherwise known as STEM) who work every day to make sure our national security interests are never threatened.

Yet in about five years, this country is projected to face a 230,000-worker shortage in exactly these areas and that number is only set to increase. That is why it is imperative that we begin immigration reform now and expand the visa program for foreign-born STEM students looking to work in this country after graduation.

As a PhD candidate at Ohio State University originally from India, I am one of those students. I came here in 2006 to study aerospace engineering and I have been working on the design of the next generation of aircraft control systems ever since. For the past six years, I’ve been working on projects for the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and NASA and in fact, those projects have supported my education here in the States. Every day I work towards making these organizations better, stronger and more innovative.

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Obama Administration Wants To Keep Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs In US

CBS DC
November 28, 2012

The Obama administration’s top immigration official is visiting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to unveil an online resource intended to help entrepreneurs navigate their immigration options.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Director Alejandro Mayorkas will unveil so-called “Entrepreneur Pathways” on Wednesday.

It is a key product of “Entrepreneurs in Residence” program that brings in business experts from outside government to look for better ways to apply existing immigration laws. The initiative, launched during a meeting with members of Silicon Valley’s startup community in February, seeks to keep foreign-born, high-tech entrepreneurs in the U.S.

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Reform Immigration For Entrepreneurs

Market Watch
November 28, 2012

If Congress is serious about saving this country’s innovative edge and creating more jobs, it will have to do better on immigration reform than the most recent effort from Republican leaders in the House.

At first glance, the STEM Jobs Act put forth by GOP leaders last week might seem like the fulfillment of a dream long held by Silicon Valley CEOs and tech investors alike. That’s because it boosts the number of visas available to prospective U.S. immigrants with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or math (also known as STEM fields).

Increasing the pool of workers with those types of skills is critical to filling the thousands of tech jobs being created every year by startups and tech companies in San Jose, Calif., Austin, Texas, New York and everywhere in between.

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Bipartisanship Needed On Skilled Immigration Reform

Forbes
November 27, 2012

While the prospects for compromise on taxes and spending seem to change from one day to the next, there have been encouraging signs since the election for those seeking meaningful immigration reform. Such reform is essential for a variety of reasons.

As post-election analysts scrutinized the election demographics, one statistic has generated much discussion about the potential for immigration reform – President Obama won more than 70 percent of both the Hispanic vote and the Asian American vote. The stark election results show the extent to which Republicans have alienated Hispanics, the fastest-growing demographic, and all voters who are tired of the immigration reform gridlock. Exit polls showed nearly two-thirds of all voters favor a path to legal status.

And if that were not enough, days after that news, the Pew Hispanic Center released a study saying the Hispanic electorate will likely double by 2020.

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A Start On Immigration

The Roanoke Times
November 27, 2012

The STEM Jobs Act, scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives this week, is not a perfect bill. It is, however, an affirmative sign that Congress may finally be ready to address serious immigration reform.

The measure, expected to pass the Republican-controlled chamber, would expand the availability of visas for foreign doctoral and masters graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Many of these bright young men and women studying at American universities are certain to become job creators. The question is whether they will stay in the United States or take their skills and their entrepreneurial aspirations to countries with accessible immigration policies and aggressive recruitment programs.

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Changing Face Of America Increases Urgency For STEM Immigration Reform

The Hill
November 27, 2012

How to put the nation’s economy on the path for growth and job creation was the central debate in this year’s election. Now that the campaign is over, the public lens remains focused on our economy; but the nation as a whole is also beginning to see a different demographic picture emerge—one that many are calling the New America. According to exit polls, the non-white share of the electorate reached 28 percent, an all-time high. And this changing face of America has prompted the president and congressional leaders to make immigration reform a top priority alongside the economy.

Yet even with this newfound willingness of our lawmakers, comprehensive and bipartisan immigration reform will be a cumbersome and lengthy process. There is, however, an aspect to this complex puzzle on which bipartisan agreement exists and that will immediately create jobs and grow the economy: STEM immigration reform.

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Make History on Immigration Reform: Address History First

Huffington Post
November 26, 2012

No longer can the president of the United States defer dealing with immigration. While it was barely a campaign issue, for America to continue avoiding comprehensive immigration reform is plainly inexcusable.

When President Obama takes up immigration reform in 2013 he must make absolutely clear the reasoning driving many Latin American immigrants northward.

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House To Mull GOP Immigration Bill

Newsday
November 26, 2012

House Republicans still smarting from their poor showing among Hispanics in the presidential election are planning a vote next week on immigration legislation that would expand visas for foreign science and technology students and make it easier for those with green cards to bring their immediate families to the United States.

Republican leaders made it clear after the election that the party was ready to get serious about overhauling the nation's dysfunctional immigration system, a top priority for Hispanic communities. Taking up what is called the STEM Jobs Act during the lame-duck session could be seen as a first step in that direction.

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Microsoft Push For Worker Visas Raises Concerns, Exposes Loopholes

The Seattle Times
November 26, 2012

Microsoft intended to jump start stalled immigration reform — and help fill thousands of job vacancies — when it offered to pay the government a bounty for extra visas to hire more foreign workers. But the offer has stirred up new concerns about the federal guest-worker program

Microsoft is so eager to find qualified engineers and programmers for its thousands of vacancies that it has offered to pay a bounty to the government in exchange for extra visas in order to import more foreign workers.

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Partnership for a New American Economy

STEM Jobs Act Would Help Foreign-Born Innovators Keep Their Talents In U.S.

Recognizing The Important Contributions Of Immigrants

Obama Administration Wants To Keep Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs In US

Reform Immigration For Entrepreneurs

Bipartisanship Needed On Skilled Immigration Reform

A Start On Immigration

Changing Face Of America Increases Urgency For STEM Immigration Reform

Make History on Immigration Reform: Address History First

House To Mull GOP Immigration Bill

Microsoft Push For Worker Visas Raises Concerns, Exposes Loopholes