Foreign-born immigrants who study and then remain in the United States drive innovation, create jobs, and help keep the economy strong.  Highly educated immigrants are likely to be trained in high-demand fields such as computer science, mathematics, architecture, engineering and life and physical sciences. Although qualified, many immigrants cannot attain the credentials they need to practice their occupations in the United States because of outmoded regulations.

More than half of the foreign-born founders of U.S. technology and engineering businesses initially came to the United States to study.  Temporary H-1B visas and permanent employment-based (EB) green cards allow these highly educated foreign professionals to be hired by American companies when they graduate from U.S. universities and then to remain here in the United States so that they can continue contributing to the nation’s strength and prosperity.  Unfortunately, these programs are highly restricted, with applications exceeding the national quota of 65,000 on the first day the program is opened each year.  Reforming both the H-1B visa and EB green card systems will help employers meet workforce demands in the 21st century.

Reunification of families who are separated by international borders, and the resultant reunification of the family structure, is foundational to success in small businesses that are family-run.  Family reunification is a visa issue, and an economic development issue.  Just as the immigration system should be structured to attract or retain highly skilled professional workers, it should also be used to reunite families as a precursor to educational and economic success.  Immigrant entrepreneurs and immigrant students will be more successful if they maintain close ties with their family, and through them, to the larger community; isolated students and entrepreneurs are more vulnerable to isolation and failure.  The Office for Refugees and Immigrants, a division within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, is the correct agency within Massachusetts state government to develop a strategy to align reunification of immigrant families through targeted issuance of visas as an economic development issue. 

19.a    The Federal Government should increase H1-B visa quota to allow more highly educated foreign workers

19.b    The New England Board of Higher Education and the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education should document the impact of foreign students to support reform of student visa restrictions

19.c    Immigrant researchers, advocacy organizations, and allied organizations should develop research documenting the positive economic and educational value of family reunification visas

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