Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) participated in a bipartisan Senate colloquy with Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Tuesday to discuss the introduction of their bill, the Immigration Innovation (I2) Act of 2013, which would bring long-overdue reforms to the nation's immigration laws for high-skilled workers and maintain the United States' global leadership in innovation.
The Washington Post editorial board on Wednesday advocated for increased visas for foreign-born, American-educated graduates with advanced degrees in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. While these individuals are being actively recruited by other countries, the U.S. reaps none of the rewards that these people can bring to a national economy through innovation and job creation.
Congressional leaders have gone back and forth on the issue for months, seeking compromise. So far, no agreement is in the cards. Republicans, under the influence of anti-immigrant restrictionists, are loath to increase the number of immigrants. Some Democrats are reluctant to ditch the green-card lottery, also known as the diversity visa program, which benefits mainly African and Eastern European immigrants. Others worry that a separate deal on STEM graduates now may make it more difficult to nail down a comprehensive immigration reform package later.
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What’s clear is that, without a deal, this country is the loser. Globally, demand for STEM graduates is soaring and competition is stiff. Canada, Britain and Australia have all structured their immigration rules to favor their job markets. China is offering cash and other incentives to lure Chinese scientists home after they have trained overseas. Meanwhile, the U.S. system remains tilted in favor of foreign relatives of citizens and permanent residents.
Senator Coons continues to advocate for needed reform to our immigration laws, including visas for those who earn advanced degrees in the STEM fields. Earlier this week, Senator Coons and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation that creates a pilot program where 55,000 new green cards per year will be available for foreign-born students who graduate from U.S. universities with advanced degrees in STEM fields. It also reduces the red tape to obtain a student visa and allows high-tech workers currently in the United States on temporary visas to renew their visas without first returning to their country of origin.
Click here to read the entire editorial on the Washington Posts’ website.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a long-awaited decision regarding immigration policy when it ruled on Arizona's controversial SB 1070. The case before the justices asked that four provisions of the state law be found unconstitutional based on preemption - a doctrine that states that the U.S. Constitution specifically reserves some policy matters for the federal government only.
The decision in Arizona v. United States struck three provisions of the state law under the doctrine of preemption, ruling that immigration policy is a federal, not state, policy matter. The Court did not strike the most controversial provision, which allows state and local law enforcement to demand any person they stop to produce proof of their legal status. Though the Court found that this piece of the law falls outside of preemption, the Court left open the possibility that the provision may be applied in ways that are unconstitutional. Arizona law enforcement is now able to enforce the provision, but language in the decision suggests that enforcement should be cautious, and leaves open the possibility that if they go too far another lawsuit challenging the provision could succeed.
Yesterday's decision on immigration reform is a victory for those concerned about the dangers of a patchwork of state laws attempting to control immigration. The decision on the "demand proof" section of the bill is disappointing to many of us concerned about our national security and civil rights.
The Court’s decision reminds us of the desperate need for reform of our broken immigration system. Immigration reform, including provisions from both the DREAM Act and the SMART Jobs Act, cosponsored by Senator Coons, are critical components for the United States to succeed in a global economy. Congress needs to act now to pass measures like those already introduced in the DREAM Act, SMART Jobs, and Startup 2.0, and work together to craft a comprehensive immigration solution.
Bloomberg View noted this week that America’s competitors in the global economy are welcoming highly skilled, highly educated immigrants with open arms, and warned that if the United States doesn’t do the same, we will lose out on job creating potential.
To see the results of self-defeating U.S. immigration policies, you need only open your browser to www.canadavisa.com. There, you’ll see a shrewd neighbor fishing for talent at U.S. expense.
At the top of the website, in large print, is the question: “Currently on an H1B Visa or otherwise working or studying in the United States?” There is nothing subtle about the appeal. Canada is seeking skilled foreigners who’ve grown frustrated with the U.S. visa gantlet, which can take a decade for the lucky few who manage even to begin it.
The Bloomberg editorial mentions the Startup Act 2.0, legislation Senator Coons introduced with Senators Mark Warner, Jerry Moran and Marco Rubio. To help create jobs, this legislation would create a new visa for immigrants who graduate from U.S. universities with an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering or math fields. It would also create an entrepreneur’s visa to help immigrants with capital start businesses and create jobs in the United States.
In addition, earlier this year, Senator Coons introduced the bipartisan SMART Jobs Act with Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee. This legislation offers another solution to the problem of America losing highly skilled immigrants – and their job creating potential – to our foreign competitors by creating a clear path forward for foreign-born, American-educated holders of advanced degrees in key fields to remain in the United States.
Studies have shown that immigrants are nearly twice as likely as U.S.-born individuals to start new businesses. Immigrant-founded startup companies created 450,000 jobs in less than a decade, and collectively they have generated over $50 billion in sales in a single year. More than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, but arbitrary and limiting per-country visa caps are sending nearly 20,000 foreign-born, American-educated degree-holders out of the country each year.