Communications of the ACM
Congress Urged to Ease Immigration for Foreign Science Talent
U.S.-based semiconductor companies cite a lack of available talent as one factor for offshoring their manufacturing.
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More than four dozen former national security leaders are calling on Congress to exempt international advanced technical degree holders from green card caps in a bid to maintain U.S. science and tech leadership, especially over China, according to a letter sent to Congressional leaders.
The America COMPETES Act passed by the Democrat-led House includes a provision to exempt foreign-born science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) doctoral degree recipients from green card caps. The exemption would be offered whether their degree is from a U.S. or foreign institution. Current U.S. immigration law limits the number of green cards issued per country, and people from populous countries like India and China are disproportionately affected.
"American leadership in technology, a cornerstone of competitiveness, rests in large part on our ability to leverage domestic and international talent," states the letter, which was signed by former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, former Secretary of Energy Steve Chu, former deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security Kari Bingen, and 46 others.
From Axios
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