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    FranchiseAdrian Chen
    4/30/13 1:56pm

    There isn't a glut of engineers in the US who can do the work, but the best and the brightest tend to come from all corners of the globe. Facebook isn't the type of company that would hire sub-par workers and pay them less [1] - rather, they want to hire these extremely talented people without having to work through the red tape that involves.

    And when it comes to immigration, there is a lot of red tape - the H1B program has a cap that ran out in days last year, and H1B workers can only stay in the US for up to 6 years unless they apply for a green card. So in other words, foreign engineers who study at Harvard and Stanford are told they can't start companies or even stay in the country for that long. I have to stay in the US for more than half a decade before I get my green card, and I'm not allowed to do any work aside from software engineering for a company that will sponsor me [2]. It's a horrible, bureaucratic, bloated mess. And don't mistake my sentiment for libertarian rhetoric, I'm very left-wing politically.

    The next time y'all decide to report on a story like this, at least consider having a modicum of objectivity and try to interview employers and workers who have opinions about current immigration laws.

    One more thing - many economists on the left and the right who understand free trade agree that one of the hugest impediments to economic growth is low labor mobility, i.e. tight borders. One recent paper that lays out evidence for this is John Kennan's "Open Borders," in case anyone's interested in reading about it.

    [1] Any startup or company for whom employee happiness, a healthy and fun culture, and good code quality are a concern would think the same way. I say this as an H1B engineer myself.

    [2] I'm not suggesting I'm dissatisfied with my career, but who's to say I'll still want to do similar work 3 years from now?

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      awztFranchise
      4/30/13 2:21pm

      You and Adrian can both be right. Facebook and co. are pushing "immigration reform" (which it barely is because of its extremely narrow focus) for purely selfish reasons that do in fact hurt American workers but can benefit society as a whole. However, it's a bitter pill to swallow to see another example of globalization that ultimately makes Americans a little poorer while increasing the wealth of the super rich. The rich benefit, poor non-Americans benefit, when does the American worker with their declining wages get to see a benefit?

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      BeyonceIsTheLastUnicornFranchise
      4/30/13 2:42pm

      I too would be inclined to afford Facebook the generous view if it weren't for this

      More than 80 percent of workers hired under the H-1B program are paid less than their American counterparts, according to the EPI.

      And even more damning, this:

      Specifically, Facebook has been trying to insert language into the Senate immigration bill to eliminate a requirement that American companies make a "good faith" effort to hire Americans before looking abroad, according to the Washington Post.

      And not to mention Green's creepy memo which can be summed up as:
      1. We got you by the balls and can apply pressure.
      2. People love us so much they'll help us crush your balls.
      3. We're so rich we'll have or soon-to-be-legal man-servant either crush your balls for us, or hand you over shiny buckaroos in campaign money. Your move, reps.

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    destor23Adrian Chen
    4/30/13 2:12pm

    I do have mixed feelings about this. When I hear from people hiring that they can't "find competent Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical workers," I always add the clause, "at the price they are willing or able to pay." I would note that there are excellent business schools throughout Asia and there are also many large companies with large division heads who could come to he U.S. and do a bang up job as a public company CEO, for a fraction of the price. But, while we're fine importing engineers, programmers and analysts, I notice that we never import C-level employees who would work more cheaply. Even though, especially for a company with shareholders, that would be a good thing. Yeah, whose job gets outsourced or who has to compete with foreign workers (either abroad or brought to the U.S.) is decided by a select few people who have collectively protected their necks.

    I think you'll find that almost any time you read a story where somebody says they can't hire a qualified applicant for a job they have open that the real problem is that they can't get the employee they want at the price they're willing to pay. At that point, you have to ask how much the hiring manager or owner makes and why, if it's so important to them, they won't give something up to get the right person in the job.

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      awztdestor23
      4/30/13 2:25pm

      Perfect comment.

      Honestly I'm embarrassed that I never realized this. Isn't it convenient how Asians get stereotyped for not being able to think creatively and be innovative which happen to parallel the exact characteristics that people in the C-suite value most. This attitude trickles down in to the ivy league admissions as well which seem to find many ways to discount otherwise very qualified non-white students.

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      crispyduck14destor23
      4/30/13 2:26pm

      I always add the clause, "at the price they are willing or able to pay."

      Absolutely correct.

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    FurryFlameAdrian Chen
    4/30/13 1:48pm

    THIS is the real problem with Citizens United. It allows politically active non-profits that completely hide their donor structures. What we know about this group is what they tell us and what leaks out here and there, but I'd suggest the three-point memo is exactly the issue: they know they have great power and are well-liked, but don't want to be seen exerting influence. The politically active nonprofits are the perfect tool for them to use. Way scarier than any super PAC.

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      lobstrAdrian Chen
      5/01/13 12:31am

      ...did Williamsburg finally secede from the union, making this emo-rad hipsterguy a foreign national in need of immigration reform?

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        lobstrAdrian Chen
        5/01/13 12:33am

        All I need is my Lucky Strikes and my green card, and we're good to go, motherfucker!

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          lobstrAdrian Chen
          5/01/13 12:32am

          I yam Helga, du yu like my forehead bonnet, ya?

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            Byron33Adrian Chen
            4/30/13 1:51pm

            Zuck is right; without a constant flow of young engineers and computer programmers, we won't be able to keep firing 40-yr old engineers and computer programmers. And that would make the retreat awkward.

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              RuthSlayderGinsburgByron33
              4/30/13 3:13pm

              Work around the clock to pay your dues as a young tech worker...so we can later replace you with more young workers who we can pressure to work around the clock later. Lovely.

              I've heard well-paid C-suite execs bitching about the cost of high-skill tech workers for almost a decade now. These "entrepreneurs" feel entitled to workers who can build their vision from the ground up using the latest and greatest technology...but don't feel they should have to pay more than minimum wage to bring their "amazing revelatory tech ideas" to life. Because they, the well-funded C-suiters, are TRULY the ones bringing valuable innovation to life and everyone else is a useless drone that should feel lucky to participate in their great vision. It's effing ridiculous the entitlement of these people who value actual skills not at all, but their "vision" is truly important and should be highly compensated.

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              quicklook82Byron33
              4/30/13 3:23pm

              40 year olds are doing a lot better than 20 year olds

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            GeekGirlAdrian Chen
            4/30/13 2:02pm

            Great article. It's a ploy for cheap labor and it is not humane. They could get the talent they need by investing in out of work Americans. It is less expensive to bring in talent with a visa program. People deserve to be paid what they are worth and it is sick to see the businesses skirt this time and time again with immigration and other tactics just to make a profit. There are better, more humane ways to make a profit rather than employing cheap labor.

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              Ray SmithAdrian Chen
              4/30/13 1:52pm

              I stopped reading at "bipartisan." The only way to achieve reform in this nation is to eliminate the two party system. Period.

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                mishellie3088Ray Smith
                4/30/13 2:01pm

                The electoral college isnt so great either. Nor is the fact that Americans still don't view basic healthcare as a human right- we waste SO MUCH MONEY on paying for advanced care when if we had provided basic care, people wouldn't be so sick. So many many things.

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                FurryFlameRay Smith
                4/30/13 2:14pm

                Yeah, that idea and 50 cents still won't get you a cup of coffee.

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              HaganAdrian Chen
              4/30/13 1:57pm

              The media, finding a way to be on the wrong side of the immigration debate by taking a position fighting against the 1%. Bringing the most intelligent and daring people into the country easily is what made our country great before. Red Scare protectionism set us back 50 years, and now you guys, writing more for the incendiary value of a piece than the societal ramifications, want to set it back further by siding against this legislation.

              And they have the guy with the Asian last name write it. Classic.

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                GrandadFreeman2.0Hagan
                4/30/13 2:14pm

                Nevermind.

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                PeroxyacidHagan
                4/30/13 4:24pm

                So bring them in a way that lets them easily leave their employers, just like the rest of us. It's these guest worker programs which depress wages so much, not the high-skill immigration in itself.

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