PROTECTIONISTS FILE SUIT TO BLOCK OPT LAW

The anti-immigrant Programmers Guild filed a suit to overturn the recently released regulation allowing F-1 students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields to seek extensions of their employment authorization for 17 months claiming the Bush Administration lacked authorization to issue the rule. If the folks pushing frivolous bills like this focused as much attention on trying to promote STEM education to America's youth, perhaps we would not be getting creamed by so many other countries. Holding a gun to employers' heads and trying to prevent them from hiring the workers they feel are best suited to keep them competitive will only accelerate the outsourcing of jobs. Those who say otherwise are in denial.

Comments

[George Chell from Singapore]

I do not have a problem if the Programmer Guild has a legitimate complaint: A 2.8 GPA from abroad is hired over a 3.5 GPA American. But what the guild wants is a privilege: the right of jobs to Americans even if they are incompetent...and I bet you that these are the same people who oppose Affirmative Action because in their words unqualified minorities get jobs. They cant have it both ways. Either the best person gets the job, foreigner, white American or minority American or we should have affirmative action. Having it both ways is tantamount to what many dersiviely call white privilege. And I strongly believe that white privilege (hiring incompetent but well connected whites) is the main reason for the current financial crisis in the American banking system. This is exactly what the Programmer Guild and other anti-immigrant groups want...a repeat of the mess perhaps through an air traffic control disaster. Americans who support jobs for Americans first irrespective of qualifications and competence should take a through look at the financial crisis before continuing to support people who want privilege because of accident of birth.

[George Chell from Singapore]

Here in Singapore, the country is littered with highly skilled visa rejects and former visa waiters from the US working for American corporations. If the Programmer Guild believes that jobs will go to Americans if foreigners are sent home, they are deluded or on drugs. In the end, the US corporations will not be hurt but the US will face severe consequences in the form of lost tax revenues and loss of funds for social security.

[Another voice]

In tough economic times immigrants are easy prey of protectionists but we all know that fields like science, health care and technology fields have shortages of workers and immigrants are needed, plus aren't the baby boomer generation starting to retire in waves soon, shouldn't we prepare for this some how, I guess we have a microwavable workforce.

[George Chell]

Deluded anti-immigrant programmer's guild.