National Action Alert
Mr Robin B Tucker,
The House plans to bring an immigration bill to the floor this week. The legislation is sponsored by House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and it would create a new green card category for foreigners who have received doctorate degrees from U.S. universities in science, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM disciplines. It would make green cards available to as many as 55,000 additional foreign nationals yearly who have earned advanced degrees.
The STEM bill at a glance
- An individual must have earned a doctorate or a master's degree from a U.S. university.
- Employers must petition for the visas on behalf of job candidates.
- The visa candidate must agree to work for at least five years for the petitioning employer, or in a STEM field.
- The visas will be limited to foreign nationals who earned degrees at Ph.D.-granting universities with high levels of research activity.
- First preference goes to people who hold doctorates.
- The Department of Homeland Security must post a list of all STEM visa employers online and reveal the number and names of aliens who hold STEM visas and list their occupations.
Those in favor of the measure point out that tech companies have been clamoring for STEM visas for years. They say the economic future of our nation hinges on the advancement of American business and that corporate America reaps financial benefits from the addition of well educated professionals who are adept in high-tech fields. They add that advancing technology creates new jobs in all areas and say these highly educated men and women should not be forced to take their knowledge out of the country. They also say this Republican sponsored bill would give GOP members a chance to advance immigration legislation before the November election, a goal Democrats have claimed as their own.
Those against the measure say the bill is not well thought out and that the U.S. might as well “staple a green card” to STEM diplomas of foreign students who have earned advanced degrees at U.S. universities. They also point out that terrorists have proved to be knowledgeable in high-tech areas and that this program could open the door to foreign nationals who plot to bring down the U.S. They add that American born citizens should not be made to compete with foreign nationals for prime jobs in the science and technology field. And some accuse Republicans of simply attempting to advance immigration legislation before the November election, after they have halted attempts by Democrats to advance other immigration measures.
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