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and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
What The Election Means To Silicon Valley
Silicon Beat November 3, 2012 Silicon Valley is and will continue to be the world’s epicenter of technology innovation and entrepreneurship. It’s very small but extremely diverse population of 2.9 million residents enjoy the second highest per capita income (only DC is slightly ahead) and highest educated people in… Read More
Who’s Hiring? An Inside Out View of High Unemployment
Yahoo! Finance November 2, 2012 The latest snapshot of the U.S. labor market, as seen in the October employment report, underscores the current jobs crisis in America. The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.9% from 7.8% in the prior month, and 171,000 payrolls were added to the workforce. While… Read More
Economist Calls For Complete Reform Of US Immigration System
Workpermit.com November 1, 2012 An economist has advised the United States government to increase immigration quotas in order to revive the economy. Charles Kenny, a fellow at the Center for Global Development and the New America Foundation, says that the US needs more unskilled migrants to work in agriculture… Read More
US Lags in Race for Tech Talent
The Epoch Times November 1, 2012 SAN FRANCISCO—From all appearances, Silicon Valley is booming, but it’s a deceptive image. The sources of innovation that have always powered the Valley are seeping away, taking with them the lifeblood of a giant technology wealth machine. A steady stream of immigrant innovators… Read More
Enact Rational Immigration Policies
Omaha.com October 23, 2012 Few issues come as politically charged as immigration, but on the ground here in the Cornhusker State, we must consider immigrants through a different lens. Restaurants and food service are a $1.9 billion industry in Nebraska, one that depends on all 67,000 of its employees. Read More
U.S. Immigration Choice: Education vs. Diversity, or Both?
San Jose Mercury News October 19, 2012 People around the world with accredited degrees in science and math should “get a green card stapled to their diploma,” Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in his Tuesday night debate with President Barack Obama, who has made similar appeals to retain… Read More
How to Reduce America’s Talent Deficit
Wall Street Journal October 18, 2012 Each month, when the government publishes the national jobs report, Americans pick over small movements in the headline rate of unemployment. In doing so, they largely miss a crucial aspect of the U.S. jobs crisis. Many American companies are now creating more jobs… Read More
Norquist: More Immigrants Good Policy, Politics
National Journal October 18, 2012 Anti-tax crusader advocates immigration reform with path to citizenship for nation’s undocumented immigrants. At an immigration summit in Indiana, Norquist called immigration “the most important thing to focus on if you’re concerned with the future of the country, both as an economic power and… Read More
Opinion: Skilled Immigrants Are Uptapped Assets for Regional Economic Development
National Journal October 17, 2012 What do Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Dayton, Ohio, have in common? Each of these cities has endured decades of shrinking population—and each has recently identified skilled immigrants as a vital component of a healthy economy. Their economic-development agendas recognize that attracting and retaining talented newcomers… Read More
DREAMing of Economic Growth
Center for American Progress October 12, 2012 During an election year dominated by concerns about our economy, policymakers and voters easily draw connections between domestic issues, such as education, Medicare, or tax policies, and the health of our economy. But so far public discourse hasn’t connected the dots between… 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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