#Arlington #NumbersUSA #Fairness Act #OPT Reform

NumbersUSA Endorses New Immigration Reform Bill

In a significant move to modify immigration policies, NumbersUSA has voiced its support for the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act, also known as H.R. 2315. Recent developments indicate a growing concern regarding the current Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which has been criticized for incentivizing U.S. employers to preferentially hire foreign students over American graduates in high-skill positions.

Introduced by Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-09), this legislation aims to eliminate the OPT program, a controversial employment pathway that has came under scrutiny for undermining job prospects for domestic STEM graduates. The statistics are troubling: fewer than half of all graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields secure jobs within their area of study. NumbersUSA’s founder, Roy Beck, highlights this pressing issue, urging the government to prioritize home-grown talent rather than incentivizing the hiring of foreign workers.

The OPT program has been largely unnoticed by the general public, according to Beck, who calls attention to a brief video produced by NumbersUSA that outlines how it adversely affects high-skilled American workers. As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, threatening traditional job markets, the need to support U.S. graduates becomes even more critical. Beck emphasizes that the passage of the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act will not only bolster domestic job recruitment but will also aid in the professional launch of U.S. graduates.

A key factor in the appeal of the OPT program to companies is the financial advantages it provides. Employers are able to save approximately 8% by hiring foreign students or graduates, thanks to the exemption from FICA and Medicare taxes under the existing OPT regulations. This financial incentive, while beneficial to businesses, comes at a cost to American taxpayers and social welfare systems. The current OPT program, which allows over half a million foreign workers to be employed in the U.S., costs Social Security and Medicare around $4 billion annually.

Beyond the economic implications, the program has also faced criticism for not ensuring that OPT workers receive prevailing wages, further complicating the competitive landscape for U.S. labor. Beck points out that this arrangement was initiated through executive action, bypassing the Congressional approval process.

As NumbersUSA steps up its advocacy efforts, it is leveraging its extensive online network of 8 million members to mobilize support for what it deems