Silicon Valley wants more skilled workers, but labor leaders worry about protecting jobs for Americans.
As the immigration bill makes its way in the Senate, a new Quinnipiac University poll shows that 54% of American voters support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; 12% say these immigrants can stay but not become citizens, and 29% say they should be deported. An overwhelming majority–71%–don’t think anything will be accomplished, in any case.
Two major liberal groups are at odds on the issue: Big Labor and Silicon Valley.
“We have seen throughout history that inviting more immigrants into the United States generally is good for the economy,” David Goodfriend, former deputy staff secretary to President Clinton said on Thursday’s show. Yet the labor movement says that “before a company should be allowed to go hire somebody from oversees we need to make that company show that they have really tried first to hire an American.”
One way to help ensure that the qualified job candidates gets the job is by focusing on the STEM Jobs Act, which would allow employers to hire foreign graduates of U.S. universities, and make it a part of the immigration package.
“We have to get more H1B visas for high skilled workers and as a result let’s bring in the dreamers and the 11 million undocumented workers. It is key to the big deal,” Goodfriend said.