WSJ.com - 'It Makes No Sense'

I’ve long advocated that students who graduate from our universities should be able to stay and work in the U.S.  We want the best and brightest from abroad to stay and help build our country and our economy.

 

WSJ.com - Opinion: 'It Makes No Sense'

 

President Obama didn't have much to say about immigration reform in his State of the Union address last week, which is surprising given his focus on "winning the future." But what the President did say was well put and well timed.

"Others come here from abroad to study in our colleges and universities," said Mr. Obama. "But as soon as they obtain advanced degrees, we send them back home to compete against us. It makes no sense."

Employers hire skilled foreign nat ionals based on merit, not because they can pay them less. Immigrants are also some 30% more likely than non-immigrants to start businesses.

Winning the future is that much more difficult if our laws limit U.S. access to foreign-born human capital. The new Congress has a chance to help the U.S. economy by working with the White House to make it easier for the world's young and talented to stay in America after they've earned their Ph.Ds.