Immigration: US at a Cross Roads

As a legal alien on a H1B visa, I truly empathize with Wall Street Journal's article on Dr. Sengupta. Very nicely written.

It is true that illegal immigrants play a important role in the US economy and their status needs to be addressed. However, it saddens me that this often blocks real solutions to the plight of those who played by the rules. It is an irony that legal immigrants aspiring for citizenship are stuck in process, backlogs and paperwork for years, in an inefficient system very similar to that which plagues the countries they emigrate from.

This, especially from a country that welcomes immigrants, values meritocracy, and rewards those who chase the American Dream. Of late this dream is turning to just wishful thinking, and for some a nightmare. Congress needs to act now to ensure US continues to remain attractive to bright young minds worldwide such that they are willing to relocate, earn advanced degrees, buy homes, raise families, launch companies, create jobs, and contribute enormously to the economy.

US Needs Immigration Policies That Make Sense

Student Visas: Advanced education and US research depends on immigrants. Students who come to the US to pursue degrees should be welcomed, and not shunned. Today, US consulates worldwide deny student visas to those who don't show a reasonable evidence proving why they won't stay back in the US after getting their degree. Instead, let us encourage students to study in the US and settle here.

Employment Based Visas: I can see how US citizens could feel deprived of job opportunities if H1B visas are given without due process or diligence. But that should not be the case for those international students who have graduated from US universities. For example, any international student who has studied and obtained a degree in the US on a full tuition scholarship should be automatically be given a employment visa and a path to a green card. Why would the US not want these students to stay here, and instead prefer they return to their countries. And let's allow their spouses to work too.

Green Cards: Any one who has legally worked in the US for five or more years, paid taxes, social security, abided by the laws -- should be given the option to obtain a green card. Current green cards don't offer the "secure permanent residency" the way a citizenship offers. By that I mean: if you have a green card, and choose to work out of US for longer periods of time (more than once), and decide to come back to the US -- you could risk losing your permanent residency status. You would need to wait for five more years, before you can apply for a US citizenship, that confers you those rights. Why?

Is Security at Odds With Prosperity?

I understand the need for greater security after 9/11. At the same time, the world economy is in transition. Rapidly growing economies like India and China are tantalizing for emigrants to return back to. Great many have. The US is at a cross-roads. Let not 9/11 be the beginning to the end of the miracle makes USA work. Let's be paranoid. Not because we may be attacked once again, but because we may forever lose the charm that was once US. Let's tear down walls and build bridges instead. Let's be the land of free and the home of the brave. Once again.