The H-1B program is a critical source of computer science talent and a major resource for the STEM field.

There are in the U.S. about 35 million STEM workers (the number varies a lot by definitions) of which about 2.5 million are computer science workers. Before the pandemic scrambled the entire legal immigration system, there were at any given time about 600,000 active H-1B visas (about 85-100K issued every year, for multiple years). 90% of H-1B visas are for STEM work, and two thirds in computer science.   Overall, there are about 7 million foreign born STEM workers; about one out of twelve of these workers are here on a H-1B visa.

For an informed debate about the H-1B program, go to this posting of two years ago.

Here is the fascinating story of how the H-iB program was one of the enablers of the tech industry in India, through knowledge transfer by H-1B visa holders.

Problems with the program today: First, a huge demand by American employers has created a situation ripe with gaming and uncertainty.  Second, the fact that about one third of visas are awarded for jobs paying less than $100,000 suggests that many positions could reasonably be filled by Americans.

Importantly, the administration of the program is divided among Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS), the Labor Department (for wage standards), and the Department of State. No agency, no special review unit, is tasked with assessing the performance of the H-1B program with respect to meeting labor demands efficiently, effectively, and fairly.

Immigration politics is heavily client-oriented, largely out of view and with without extensive public debate.  When it bursts into the open, all kinds of contradictions appear. Tweet by Musk on 11/24/23:  “We should greatly increase legal immigration of anyone who is hardworking, honest and loves America. Every such person is an asset to the country. But massive illegal immigration of people we know nothing about is insane.”