While President Barack Obama continues to work toward comprehensive
immigration reform, many in the technology and engineering sectors are
calling on the executive branch to work instead to fix the current
system of work permits and green cards for engineers, programmers and
other skilled technical workers. Executives from companies including GE,
Boeing and DuPont, as well as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are asking
for quick action to resolve an issue that immediately affects the U.S.’
ability to stay competitive in the challenging global market.
Even though the U.S. is facing a 9.1 percent unemployment rate, there
are still thousands of job openings in the U.S. manufacturing sector.
These openings are for positions for which U.S. workers don’t have the
necessary skills. Leaders of industry are now asking the President to
look for quick fixes to programs such as the H-1B visa program and to
the permanent residency process based on employment. Currently, only 15
percent of all green cards are given for economic reasons.
