Global Competitiveness
The United States has long been the destination for the world’s most talented immigrants. Despite the last 50 years of technological advancement, American immigration policy has remained virtually unchanged, putting in danger America's global competitiveness. Yesterday's immigration policy no longer meets today’s economic needs. Only about 14 percent of all U.S. green cards are given for economic reasons, compared to more than 60 percent in Canada and Australia. With no dedicated visa for entrepreneurs and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
Why the Industrial Market Needs Immigration Reform
As an industrial broker for the past three decades, I have personally come to know many business owners and leaders, and have come to understand the needs of their organizations. From manufacturers to third-party logistics firms, businesses rely on access to a skilled and reliable workforce. The problem,… Read More
Business leader’s plea to GOP: You won, now fix immigration
In the wake of the last election, millions of decent immigrants remain hostages to partisanship. Last week, Republicans gained majorities in the U.S. House and Senate and at least three governorships, including Illinois. President Barack Obama reiterated his vow of an executive order on immigration reform before the end… Read More
Loss of high-skilled immigrants hurts growth, wages
Deepthi Valli is weighing choices she’d rather not have to make: Return to India or enroll in graduate school. It doesn’t appear she can keep working at Cerner Corp. Valli, 26, is one of thousands of highly skilled foreign-born employees whose U.S. employers can’t get the work visas needed to… Read More
Letter: Immigration policy reform necessary
Our American colleges and universities have a proud tradition of educating the world’s best and brightest. Parents from all over the world send their kids here for their education. Guess what happens after they graduate? Our broken immigration system gives them six months to get out of our country. Many… Read More
6 things you need to know about STEM
STEM — the acronym for science, technology, engineering and math — has sparked a nationwide debate about education, gender, immigration and the future of the U.S. economy. Here are six things you need to know about STEM: Kids… Read More
The United States needs doctors, and immigration reform can help
As I watch the debate over immigration reform in Washington, D.C., it is apparent our leaders need to be reminded of the implications the issue has for the future of medicine. As the chairman and physician-in-chief of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, I can tell you… Read More
Nashville opens office for immigrant ‘new Americans’
Immigrants in Nashville have found a vocal ally in Mayor Karl Dean in recent years, and on Monday he announced the creation of a new Metro office focused exclusively on helping them. By executive order, Dean created the Mayor’s Office of New Americans, or MONA, a city office tasked with… Read More
10 Reasons the Tech Industry Will Break Down without Immigration Reform
America will face a shortage of more than 220,000 workers with STEM degrees by 2018. More than a quarter of science and engineering firms already report difficulty hiring. In recent years, more than half of the post doctorates in science and engineering at U.S. Read More
Reed: Atlanta Will Welcome Immigrants
Immigrants are welcome in Atlanta. That’s the message Mayor Kasim Reed sent Wednesday when he announced the recommendations of the Welcoming Atlanta Working Group he appointed in April. Standing in front of the Center for Civil and Human Rights downtown, Mayor Reed said the group submitted … Read More
Atlanta mayor announces plans for welcoming new arrivals
Mayor Kasim Reed on Wednesday announced his administration will create an office of multicultural affairs as part of Atlanta’s efforts to create a welcoming environment for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity or native country. The mayor also disclosed the Atlanta Police Department will create… Read More
Impending Labor Challenges
The United States is facing demographic challenges that endanger its preeminent economic position in the world. An aging workforce threatens the vitality of the labor force. At the same time, the supply of U.S.-trained engineers is lagging behind nearly all other industrialized economies. At a time when tech-heavy and innovation driven industries are driving economic growth, the United States faces the prospect of being left behind.
Table 1: Share of Population Age 65+, 1996, 2006, 2016 and projected 2030
Table 2: Share of Undergrads Studying Engineering
Prioritizing Economic Needs
Many countries have identified the link between immigration and economic growth. For many, such moves are a matter of necessity–the domestic labor force is not sufficient for an expanding economy, and aging populations and declining fertility rates are creating labor shortages. Despite facing some of the same challenges, U.S. immigration policy has not changed to reflect our economy’s evolving needs.
Table 3: Percentage of All Permanent Residency Visas Given for Economic Reasons*
Need for a Start-Up Visa
Countries around the world, from France, to Chile, to Singapore have created visas aimed at attracting promising entrepreneurs and job creators. Despite concerns about meager job creation and business growth, however, the United States has not taken a similar step, endangering our position in the global race for talent. This situation was made worse in 2017 when the administration took the first steps to kill the International Entrepreneur Rule, a measure that would have allowed entrepreneurs with outside funding to remain in the country for 2.5 years to establish their businesses.
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