[Web Exclusive]
IEEE-USA Responds To ED Editorial On Immigration
John Meredith
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ED Online ID #17686 |
November 28, 2007
In October, I joined George Scalise, president of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in signing a letter urging Congress to increase the permanent "employment-based immigrant visa cap" for foreign high-tech professionals (www.ieeeusa.org/policy/policy/2007/101107.pdf).
A month later, our position was seriously mischaracterized in an Electronic Design opinion piece by Contributing Editor Sam Davis ( "IEEE Agrees with SIA on H-1B Visas for Foreign Engineers, Scientists"). From the headline to writing that we "joined forces to urge Congress to pass the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007," the work was fraught with factual errors regarding IEEE-USA’s position.
IEEE-USA for many years has maintained a consistent policy of supporting reforms to the employment-based permanent immigration system, rather than deepening our national dependence on a short-term work permit that conveys no residency rights to the workers using it.
IEEE-USA also supports the H-1B and L-1 visa reforms outlined in 2007 legislation introduced by Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). And we continue to work with Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), who is preparing to update the H-1B reform legislation he introduced in 2005. Neither bill calls for increasing the H-1B cap. Rather, both seek to fix H-1B-related problems and plug loopholes that numerous reports have documented, shortcomings that hurt both foreign and domestic engineers.
With respect to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, IEEE-USA lobbied Congress to include employment-based immigration reforms and anti-H-1B abuse provisions in that bill, but did not take a position either supporting or opposing its passage because it encompassed many issues, such as illegal immigration and border security, that were not within our immediate scope of concern.
By equating our pro-immigration position with support for guest worker visas, Mr. Davis’ commentary has confused readers about the distinction between an immigration visa (EB visas) and short-term work permit (H-1B). EB visa holders are free to work for whomever is willing to hire them. They also can change jobs freely. H-1B holders, by contrast, are essentially tied to the employer who initially applied for the visa. With an H-1B, the employer holds the visa, not the employee.
While we acknowledged our different approaches to the H-1B issue in the joint letter, we were pleased to find common ground with SIA on legal permanent immigration because we both want to strengthen America’s high-tech enterprise. We concur that a strong U.S. engineering workforce is good for our nation.
For the same reasons, IEEE-USA worked hard with SIA and other groups to support comprehensive competitiveness and innovation legislation signed into law this August. The "America Competes Act" authorizes substantial increases in federal support for research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and related U.S. educational programs. When funded, the new law will create high-paying jobs in the United States and help America maintain its global leadership in science and technology.
It is obvious that the only way to prevent business from abusing the use of engineers and scientists from outside our country for the purpose of holding down the wage of all engineers and scientists (which also discourages US citizens from entering the professions there by creating the shortage in the first place) is for them to pay them more than the prevailing wage. This insures that the import of labor is not for wage busting and allows the wage to rise to the level where it will be an incentive for US citizens to work in the professions.
Anonymous -December 12, 2007
Time to cancel my IEEE membership. In fact, I think I'll start a website titled www.IEEESucks.com
CA Based Engineer... With a Job! -November 29, 2007 (Article Rating: )
I 100% agree with this poster. the IEEE are in the wrong, they are not supporting us and are happy to see our jobs get outsourced - to lower salaried, less skilled and less experience EEs. The future looks very bleak for the IEEE and North American design.
Previous Comment: Behind smoke and mirrors, IEEE-USA president admits in his first sentence that he is "urging Congress to increase the permanent "employment-based immigrant visa cap" for foreign high-tech professionals".
And
I also wonder how many members of Mr. Meredith's organization support his action.
Hear! Hear!
Binky -November 29, 2007
Behind smoke and mirrors, IEEE-USA president admits in his first sentence that he is "urging Congress to increase the permanent "employment-based immigrant visa cap" for foreign high-tech professionals". Mr. Meredith can talk as much as he wants, but the fact is that he, as a president of an association of electrical engineers, wants more electrical engineers to be imported into the US, instead of trying to protect the jobs of the US engineers. He should be forcing companies like Microsoft and Intel to hire/train unemployed US engineers and pay decent salaries. His approach is more likely to further lower salaries and make the shortage problem worse. Does Mr. Meredith really think that there are not enough smart engineers in the US to support this industry? I don't think so. I also wonder how many members of Mr. Meredith's organization support his action.
Anonymous -November 29, 2007
"...a strong U.S. engineering workforce is good for our nation." That's pretty rich. The multi-culti globalists, including the editors of Electronic Design, want nothing less than the dissolution of the USA, with just enough window dressing to keep the populace enthralled by the illusion of an independent nation.
Anonymous -November 28, 2007
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Rating Only -November 28, 2007 (Article Rating: )
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Rating Only -November 28, 2007 (Article Rating: )
What is IEEE getting involved in politics for? Isn't the tabloidization of Science magazine, New England Journal of Medicine, and Sceintific American bad enough?
Anonymous -November 28, 2007 (Article Rating: )
What is IEEE getting involved in politics for? Isn't the tabloidization of Science magazine, New England Journal of Medicine, and Sceintific American bad enough?
Anonymous -November 28, 2007 (Article Rating: )
1st 20 years to live on working visa waiting for green card, or 20 years after receiving citizenship? ... 2nd The choice is simple. We either bring them in or outsource all jobs. What do you mean 20years?
Anonymous -November 28, 2007
Given the responses to the original article, despite perhaps misrepresenting IEEE-USA's stance, it's quite clear that IEEE has a PR problem. Just what do you intend to do about it?
And "permanent" immigration is also a misnomer; plenty of Chinese, Indians, etc. get their green card and even citizenship then return to their native countries to compete with us. Others that stay steal technology; the USCC (www.uscc.gov) says that espionage from Chinese is "alarming" and a top risk. So if we're going to bring in engineers to compete with US citizens for jobs, we need to also put in place some very strong laws, including tests and residency conditions (like stay 20 years) that are enforced. This is an open society; I want it to stay that way but clearly we are at risk.
Anonymous -November 28, 2007
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