4 ms·

I would say that immigration is complex. Also there are clear differences in what different types of immigrants bring to the US. Clearly immigration helps some

by bruceb 12y ago

I would say that immigration is complex. Also there are clear differences in what different types of immigrants bring to the US. Clearly immigration helps some and hurts some. For some low wage workers clearly bringing in more low skilled and semi skilled works does hurt them. That being said grabbing the cream of the crop from around the world is mostly good for the US.

Roboprog 12y ago
Problem is, H-1B is little more than an indentured servant program. If we were immigrating only the best and brightest, as free men (women), that would be a bit different.
- jadc 12y ago
  It seems that many equate H-1B with bringing in cheap labor from abroad. The truth is if you are an international student in the US and would like to stay in the US afterwards then applying for an H1-B (presumably after being on a F-1 student visa) and then getting the permanent residency is often the best way forward.
- bruceb 12y ago
  Those who come here on H-1B can transfer companies now. Giving them more power than they had in the past.
  - enraged_camel 12y ago
    Changing jobs while on H1B is a massive -- massive -- pain in the ass. You need to basically find a company who wants to deal with the headache and the legal expenses, and hope that USCIS accepts your transfer. This significantly limits a visa-holder's choices in terms of employment. Startups are pretty much out of the question, and most medium-sized companies as well, unless you're well-known in your field.
bobcostas55 12y ago
>For some low wage workers clearly bringing in more low skilled and semi skilled works does hurt them. How is that clear, exactly? The empirical evidence shows the exact opposite. You can start reading here: http://nber.org/papers/w19315 http://nber.org/papers/w19315
- bruceb 12y ago
  That is Denmark, with different social services than the US. http://www.examiner.com/article/immigration-reform-will-hurt-black-americans-most http://www.examiner.com/article/immigration-reform-will-hurt...
  - icebraining 12y ago
    That's just a political statement. Where's the research?
a8da6b0c91d 12y ago
Immigration may be complex, but the essentials of the current situation are: 1) We are taking in over a million people a year. 2) There is very little job growth. 3) Projected population growth is ecologically unsustainable. 4) The vast majority of these immigrants present at best a break-even economic proposition for those already here. They tend to be net tax drains, in fact. 5) The native population overwhelmingly favors much reduced immigration, but powerful interests press for more. The only way this disastrous situation will get fixed is with a year zero restart. The current set of interest groups are too entrenched for meaningful policy change. We need a period of zero immigration for five or ten years, after which other policies might be worth considering.
- wfjackson 12y ago
  >We need a period of zero immigration for five or ten years, after which other policies might be worth considering There most probably wouldn't be a need for any stricter policy after 10 years, for skill based employment. By that time, many companies would either move or have big offices in other locations in order to attract global talent so the US wouldn't be as attractive to come in anymore. Also, there are a lot of companies that are started by immigrants, so some other country is suddenly going to be a hub just like Silicon Valley now. Looks like your proposal affects students too. That means a lot of folks like the Google and Yahoo founders. Do you even realize how much R&D at universities and companies is driven by immigrants? Don't think it will happen? What if I tell you it's already happening to a certain extent even with the current policies? http://www.infoworld.com/t/business/microsoft-vancouver-responds-immigration-woes-068 http://www.infoworld.com/t/business/microsoft-vancouver-resp... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueseed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueseed
  - a8da6b0c91d 12y ago
    I am very comfortable with multinational corporations and research organizations setting up shop near where the skilled people are. I don't see how it makes sense for them to have to import the people to America. Is there something magic about American soil? Why would you object to organizations having a larger international presence? Really, this would better serve both the foreign countries and American global interests.

by bruceb 12y ago

Roboprog 12y ago

Problem is, H-1B is little more than an indentured servant program. If we were immigrating only the best and brightest, as free men (women), that would be a bit different.

jadc 12y ago
It seems that many equate H-1B with bringing in cheap labor from abroad. The truth is if you are an international student in the US and would like to stay in the US afterwards then applying for an H1-B (presumably after being on a F-1 student visa) and then getting the permanent residency is often the best way forward.
bruceb 12y ago
Those who come here on H-1B can transfer companies now. Giving them more power than they had in the past.
- enraged_camel 12y ago
  Changing jobs while on H1B is a massive -- massive -- pain in the ass. You need to basically find a company who wants to deal with the headache and the legal expenses, and hope that USCIS accepts your transfer. This significantly limits a visa-holder's choices in terms of employment. Startups are pretty much out of the question, and most medium-sized companies as well, unless you're well-known in your field.

bobcostas55 12y ago

>For some low wage workers clearly bringing in more low skilled and semi skilled works does hurt them. How is that clear, exactly? The empirical evidence shows the exact opposite. You can start reading here: http://nber.org/papers/w19315 http://nber.org/papers/w19315

bruceb 12y ago
That is Denmark, with different social services than the US. http://www.examiner.com/article/immigration-reform-will-hurt-black-americans-most http://www.examiner.com/article/immigration-reform-will-hurt...
- icebraining 12y ago
  That's just a political statement. Where's the research?

a8da6b0c91d 12y ago

Immigration may be complex, but the essentials of the current situation are: 1) We are taking in over a million people a year. 2) There is very little job growth. 3) Projected population growth is ecologically unsustainable. 4) The vast majority of these immigrants present at best a break-even economic proposition for those already here. They tend to be net tax drains, in fact. 5) The native population overwhelmingly favors much reduced immigration, but powerful interests press for more. The only way this disastrous situation will get fixed is with a year zero restart. The current set of interest groups are too entrenched for meaningful policy change. We need a period of zero immigration for five or ten years, after which other policies might be worth considering.

wfjackson 12y ago
>We need a period of zero immigration for five or ten years, after which other policies might be worth considering There most probably wouldn't be a need for any stricter policy after 10 years, for skill based employment. By that time, many companies would either move or have big offices in other locations in order to attract global talent so the US wouldn't be as attractive to come in anymore. Also, there are a lot of companies that are started by immigrants, so some other country is suddenly going to be a hub just like Silicon Valley now. Looks like your proposal affects students too. That means a lot of folks like the Google and Yahoo founders. Do you even realize how much R&D at universities and companies is driven by immigrants? Don't think it will happen? What if I tell you it's already happening to a certain extent even with the current policies? http://www.infoworld.com/t/business/microsoft-vancouver-responds-immigration-woes-068 http://www.infoworld.com/t/business/microsoft-vancouver-resp... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueseed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueseed
- a8da6b0c91d 12y ago
  I am very comfortable with multinational corporations and research organizations setting up shop near where the skilled people are. I don't see how it makes sense for them to have to import the people to America. Is there something magic about American soil? Why would you object to organizations having a larger international presence? Really, this would better serve both the foreign countries and American global interests.