Should Foreign STEM Graduates Get Green Cards?
As the U.S. economy staggers out of recession, many see the growth of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, known collectively as STEM, to be crucial in keeping the United States competitive on the global stage. In addition to facilitating the study of these fields among American youths, some STEM proponents argue that immigrants who come to the United States to learn about the sciences should be encouraged to stay here once they have graduated. They fear that otherwise, foreign STEM grads will take their skills and education to their home countries, costing America the opportunity for job-creating innovation. The STAPLE Act, which would grant immigrants who earn Ph.D.’s in STEM fields permanent residency and exempt them from immigrant quota limitations, is one initiative being proposed to keep foreign STEM graduates on U.S. soil in the hopes that they will create successful companies and more jobs for Americans. Opponents say this and similar measures would have the opposite effect, taking jobs away from Americans and supressing wages in the fields. Should foreign STEM graduates get green cards? Here is the Debate Club’s take:
The Arguments
Yes — While OK for Ph.D.'s, extending green cards to bachelor's or master's STEM grads would do more harm than good
MARK KRIKORIAN, Author of 'The New Case Against Immigration, Both Legal and Illegal' and 'How Obama is Transforming America Through Immigration' Comment (24)
Yes — Research shows that foreign-born STEM grads create jobs for native workers
TAMAR JACOBY, President of ImmigrationWorks USA Comment (42)
Yes — U.S. STEM-educated foreigners should be allowed to stay in the United States
JEFF FLAKE, U.S. Representative from Arizona Comment (23)
No — STEM industries have plenty of labor without foreign grads sticking around
HAL SALZMAN, Sociologist at the E.J Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University Comment (14)
No — There are better ways to correct the dysfunction of our current immigration system
DANIEL STEIN, President of Federation for American Immigration Reform Comment (14)
No — Broad-based exemptions would result in foreign STEM grads who substitute rather than complement American workers
RON HIRA, Co-author of 'Outsourcing America' Comment (16)
No — Foreign STEM graduates shouldn't get a green card stapled to their diploma
NORM MATLOFF, Professor at University of California, Davis Comment (18)
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