Obama's Immigration Reform

There you go! Finally good news and we can loosen our ties and take a deep breath. The American Dream seems to be coming true. Obama's Immigration Reform is going to make it easier for the Brains of the World who came to the United States to stay in the country and contribute to it's economic growth.  

The Number of H1B visas issued to foreigners is going to be increased from 65,000 till 115,000 and is going to grant the opportunity to stay and work in the country for skilled immigrants who just received a degree in the USA. The reform is going to make the whole application and approval process much easier and faster. 

Another issue that Obama raised is that the immigration policy will make it easier for the start-uppers to stay in the country and manage the companies that they have established here.  This is a great opportunity indeed. 

Researchers at Duke and UC Berkeley found that 25% of technology and engineering companies started between 1995 and 2005 had at least one immigrant key founder and those companies created more than 450,000 jobs. In this case both parties win: immigrants and citizens. So i don't see a reason to complain here. 

Those who make such a huge step like coming to the United States to study and go through all the paper process, application process and visa issues are already pretty determined about what they want in their lives. It doesn't mean that every single student coming to study to the States wants to stay here. A good portion of them just wants to get the knowledge and experience and then go back and share everything they have learned with others back in their country. But those who do want to stay here have already made a huge step.

I am not talking about the illegal immigrants who just came here God knows how and want to stay here but my main focus is on those who came to the States following all the rules and laws and do not even consider any illegal options. Why the country may not want those who are law-obedient and skilled? 

International students studying in the USA get the same education as the citizens and they have to go through the same tests and exams to earn the degree. Sure, to make life easier that would be very nice for the citizens if  some portion of the graduates went back to their countries and reduced the competition for jobs for the citizens. But come on! In the USA everybody is an immigrant at some point. Someone came here 2 years ago, someone came here 20 years ago and someone was born here but his/her parents came here when they were students as well. Everybody has an equal opportunity to "Pursuit the Happiness" as the the Founding Fathers have defined it. 

Some may argue that a skilled person is valuable everywhere in the world and not getting an H1B visa is not the end of the life. The immigrant can then go back to his/her country and find a job there. This is just what happened to  Sophie Cole, a British citizen, who came to study to the USA and now not being granted H1B Visa has to go back home. 

True, it's not the end of life but what about the Dream? Everybody has a Dream and if you are a citizen then think about your grandparents who came to the New World having a Dream. If you want to live in a different country you should have an opportunity to do so. It is absolutely the same story as when you want to live in a big city or a small town, when you feel like you want to live in Asia, Europe, Middle East or somewhere else just because you like the culture and the lifestyle.

If the country wants to be the World Leader with strong economy, science, education and diverse culture it should be willing to accept those who want to contribute.