Even Google Wants Immigration Reform

At the American Enterprise Institute, Executive Chairman of Google Eric Schmidt, urged Congress to increase the amount of work visas given to highly-skilled immigrants.

While Schmidt limited his opinions to immigrants with specialized technical skills, the Googler says he believes the United States is better off having more immigrants than less.

Schmidt commented saying, “We take very, very smart people, bring them into the country, give them a diploma and kick them out where they go on to create companies that compete with us… Brilliant strategy.”

Schmidt suggested that the government increase the number of H-1B visas, a program that is separate than the normal student visa application program, and that this program would be geared towards stimulating the economy through intelligent immigrants that will eventually become lawful residents and start U.S. businesses, and hire American workers.

Supported by Republican Senator of Utah Orrin Hatch, a bill was drafted expanding the current annual cap of H-1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 and 195,000 – depending on market conditions and the demand needed. The proposal was denied with the introduction of Republican Senator of Alabama Jeff Sessions’ statistics on how U.S. higher education is graduating twice as many students specializing in science, technology, math and engineering over any other country.