Wasting Talent: How the US is Losing Revenue and Skills of Immigrant Workers
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Authors
Dowse, Richard
Issue Date
2017-12
Volume
9
Issue
1
Type
Journal Article
Language
Keywords
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Anyone living in the United States during the past decade knows that there is one word that tends to get individuals fired up and speaking out, regardless of background, ethnicity, country of origin, or political party: immigration. Whether an individual was born in the United States or born abroad and now living in the United States [whether legally or illegally], almost everyone has strong opinions about public policy and the current treatment of immigrants attempting to enter the United States, as well as those who have already crossed the border.|The recent 2016 Presidential Election brought this war of opinions to front, center stage with outspoken candidate [now president], Donald Trump’s criticisms of criminal immigrants, lax immigration enforcement, and even the need to build a giant wall to secure the country’s southern border. Thanks, in part, to this rhetoric of hatred and fear being broadcast to America’s citizens, there exists the misconception that the majority of immigrants come to the US with no education, no money, and no way to take care of themselves or their families. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from truth. What may surprise many is that, between 2011-2015, the percentage of immigrants who had graduated from college greatly surpassed the percentage of US-born adults doing the same. In spite of this surprising fact, there remain millions of college-educated immigrants who are unable to practice their chosen professions in the US due to outdated policies of “recertification,” limited availability of medical residencies and skilled-labor visas, and lack of recognition of foreign training and degrees, despite friendlier examples of transference of skills and training in many European countries.
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Publisher
Creighton University School of Law
License
Copyright