Attracting and securing highly-skilled foreign-born talent is a key issue for U.S. competitiveness and national security. The House of Representatives recently passed the America COMPETES Act, which included immigration provisions in Section 80303 that exempt advanced STEM degree holders from green card caps. If Section 80303 makes it into the final bill, it will be easier for the U.S. to onshore and develop industries that are critical to achieving American national security objectives.
STEM immigration reform should not be an afterthought in a competitiveness bill, it should be central to our strategy for retaining American technological leadership.
A major bottleneck in growing the defense industrial base is overly restrictive immigration rules for high-skilled immigrants.
The United States can no longer take it for granted that it will be the world’s leader in STEM fields. While the United States is still ahead in cutting edge research, China has already caught up on numerous important metrics. If the United States is going to retain its international leadership, it will need to include immigration in its competitiveness strategy. Exempting top talent from existing restrictions will help retain American economic and technological leadership.