(NAME-MCE) Immigration Plan Would Give Green Cards to STEM Grad Students

[Anselmo Villanueva]

Immigration Plan Would Give Green Cards to STEM Grad Students

A bipartisan immigration reform plan would give a boost to efforts by
American universities to recruit the top science and graduate graduate
students from around the world. The plan -- unveiled in an op-ed in The
Washington Post by Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, and Sen.
Lindsey O. Graham, a South Carolina Republican -- would give a green card to
those from outside the United States who receive a doctoral or master's
degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). "It makes
no sense to educate the world's future inventors and entrepreneurs and then
force them to leave when they are able to contribute to our economy," wrote
the two senators. Countries that compete with the United States for top
graduate students generally make it much easier for them to stay after they
finish their educations than does the U.S., and that difference has become a
key differentiator. While the plan is far from a sure thing and
anti-immigration politicians have had success in killing off reform efforts
in the past, the involvement of a leading Republican in the plan gave some
hope that this one might receive more consideration.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/17/AR2010031703115.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

The right way to mend immigration

By Charles E. Schumer and Lindsey O. Graham
Friday, March 19, 2010  The Washington Post

Our immigration system is badly broken. Although our borders have become far
more secure in recent years, too many people seeking illegal entry get
through. We have no way to track whether the millions who enter the United
States on valid visas each year leave when they are supposed to. And
employers are burdened by a complicated system for verifying workers'
immigration status.

Last week we met with President Obama to discuss our draft framework for
action on immigration. We expressed our belief that America's security and
economic well-being depend on enacting sensible immigration policies.

The answer is simple: Americans overwhelmingly oppose illegal immigration
and support legal immigration. Throughout our history, immigrants have
contributed to making this country more vibrant and economically dynamic.
Once it is clear that in 20 years our nation will not again confront the
specter of another 11 million people coming here illegally, Americans will
embrace more welcoming immigration policies.

Our plan has four pillars: requiring biometric Social Security cards to
ensure that illegal workers cannot get jobs; fulfilling and strengthening
our commitments on border security and interior enforcement; creating a
process for admitting temporary workers; and implementing a tough but fair
path to legalization for those already here.

Besides border security, ending illegal immigration will also require an
effective employment verification system that holds employers accountable
for hiring illegal workers. A tamper-proof ID system would dramatically
decrease illegal immigration, experts have said, and would reduce the
government revenue lost when employers and workers here illegally fail to
pay taxes.

We would require all U.S. citizens and legal immigrants who want jobs to
obtain a high-tech, fraud-proof Social Security card. Each card's unique
biometric identifier would be stored only on the card; no government
database would house everyone's information. The cards would not contain any
private information, medical information or tracking devices. The card would
be a high-tech version of the Social Security card that citizens already
have.

Prospective employers would be responsible for swiping the cards through a
machine to confirm a person's identity and immigration status. Employers who
refused to swipe the card or who otherwise knowingly hired unauthorized
workers would face stiff fines and, for repeat offenses, prison sentences.

We propose a zero-tolerance policy for gang members, smugglers, terrorists
and those who commit other felonies after coming here illegally. We would
bolster recent efforts to secure our borders by increasing the Border
Patrol's staffing and funding for infrastructure and technology. More
personnel would be deployed to the border immediately to fill gaps in
apprehension capabilities.

Other steps include expanding domestic enforcement to better apprehend and
deport those who commit crimes and completing an entry-exit system that
tracks people who enter the United States on legal visas and reports those
who overstay their visas to law enforcement databases.

Ending illegal immigration, however, cannot be the sole objective of reform.
Developing a rational legal immigration system is essential to ensuring
America's future economic prosperity.

Ensuring economic prosperity requires attracting the world's best and
brightest. Our legislation would award green cards to immigrants who receive
a PhD or master's degree in science, technology, engineering or math from a
U.S. university. It makes no sense to educate the world's future inventors
and entrepreneurs and then force them to leave when they are able to
contribute to our economy.

Our blueprint also creates a rational system for admitting lower-skilled
workers. Our current system prohibits lower-skilled immigrants from coming
here to earn money and then returning home. Our framework would facilitate
this desired circular migration by allowing employers to hire immigrants if
they can show they were unsuccessful in recruiting an American to fill an
open position; allowing more lower-skilled immigrants to come here when our
economy is creating jobs and fewer in a recession; and permitting workers
who have succeeded in the workplace, and contributed to their communities
over many years, the chance to earn a green card.

For the 11 million immigrants already in this country illegally, we would
provide a tough but fair path forward. They would be required to admit they
broke the law and to pay their debt to society by performing community
service and paying fines and back taxes. These people would be required to
pass background checks and be proficient in English before going to the back
of the line of prospective immigrants to earn the opportunity to work toward
lawful permanent residence.

The American people deserve more than empty rhetoric and impractical calls
for mass deportation. We urge the public and our colleagues to join our
bipartisan efforts in enacting these reforms.

Charles E. Schumer is a Democratic senator from New York. Lindsey O. Graham
is a Republican senator from South Carolina.