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and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
Prominent Oklahoma Republicans push for immigration reform
Citing billion-dollar losses in agriculture labor shortages, a group of current and past Oklahoma Republican leaders has asked the state’s congressional delegation to support approval of immigration reform. A letter sent Tuesday includes 13 signatures including former Gov. Frank Keating, former Tulsa… Read More
Oklahoma Republicans urge immigration reform
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A group of current and former Oklahoma Republican elected officials is urging Congress to pass an immigration reform measure this year, saying the current system isn’t working for the state’s business owners and farmers. In a letter Tuesday to the state’s five U.S. Read More
Successful Belgian Entrepreneur and Stanford Graduate Worries About His Future in the U.S.
Pierre-Jean Cobut, a Belgian entrepreneur who always dreamed of moving to America, was accepted into Stanford Business School in 2012. While at Stanford, he and his Israeli-born classmate Elad Ferber developed a hi-tech wearable fitness device that landed them on a list of “Stanford Business… Read More
Virginia needs immigration reform
Virginians may be wondering how the prospects for immigration reform being effectively dead until 2016 will affect them. But the reality is that there’s resultant national impact. Just consider national elections: If any Republican veers from the conservative stance, it will be seemingly toxic for his… Read More
Immigrant from Belgium Brings Innovation to American Classrooms, May Have to Return Home
Thomas Ketchell, the founder of a promising startup aiming to bring technology into the elementary school classroom, received a prestigious invitation to join an accelerator in America. Much to his frustration, he has been unable to get a work visa so he can work in the country more… Read More
Republican legislators, ex-senator call on U.S. House to pass immigration reform
SALT LAKE CITY — Leaders of the Utah House and Senate and former Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah, are calling on Utah’s congressional delegation to pass immigration reform this year. “The current system is broken, and the United States cannot afford to wait any longer to fix… Read More
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
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.
