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and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
Time to reform broken immigration system
As a professor of finance and economics at Northwest Nazarene University, I was glad to read of Wilder Mayor John Bechtel’s trip to Washington, D.C., to address the need to fix our broken immigration system. I could not agree more with him that there is no reason we… Read More
US Visa System Presents Obstacles for Brazilian Immigrant Entrepreneur
Pedro Sorrentino, a successful tech entrepreneur from Brazil, came to the U.S. to further his education and career. Hired by SendGrid.com right after graduating from Colorado University, Pedro was on the right track until visa difficulties forced him to return to Brazil. After much hard work and a… Read More
A Successful Hairstylist from France is Held Back by US Immigration System
Philippe Ma, a Hong Kong native who grew up in France, started a successful hair salon in the Orlando area. Unfortunately, the uncertainties of the E2 visa – which doesn’t put him on a path to getting a green card – have kept him from expanding and… Read More
Rupert Murdoch: Immigration Reform Can’t Wait
There is rarely a good time to do hard things, and America won’t advance if legislators act like seat-warmers. When I learned that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his Republican primary, my heart sank. Not simply… Read More
An Immigrant from Mexico Makes a Big Impact through Nanofiber Technology
Karen Lozano, the first Mexican national to earn an engineering PhD from Rice University, invented a spinning technology while working at UT-Pan American that could manufacture nanofibers 900 times faster than technologies currently on the market. That technology eventually was incorporated into FibeRio Technology Corporation, a firm that’s… Read More
Immigration reform is essential to our economy
People like myself all over the country are asking Congress to pass substantive immigration or guest worker reform this year. The chorus of voices continues to expand. Recently the Tea Party Express even endorsed reform. Sal Russo, their co-founder, said “Congress must pass legislation that will fix our broken system. Read More
Time for US House action on immigration
As a businessperson vitally concerned about jobs and the economy, I continue to be surprised by the lack of urgency in the U.S. House of Representatives to deal with a crucial economic issue — immigration reform. I hope the recent primary election defeat of House majority leader Eric… Read More
Celebrate immigrant heritage month with reform law
As time grows short for the current Congress to pass much needed immigration reform legislation, I feel it is important for all of us to join in the recognition of June as Immigrant Heritage Month. When we reflect on the countless contributions — past and present — immigrants… Read More
Texas Conservatives Say Congress Must Break Gridlock on Immigration Reform
Now that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has lost his primary to a Tea Party opponent, immigration legislation may be a tougher prospect. But in Texas, a number of Republicans say they’ll keep urging Washington to change immigration law. Included among those legislators is State… Read More
Why Eric Cantor’s Primary Defeat Has Few Implications In Texas
Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s opponent in the Virginia primary, David Brat, was relatively unknown but he challenged Cantor on his support for comprehensive immigration reform. Richard Murray, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said Cantor’s defeat means the chances… 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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