http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9121059

Obama's choice for DHS could flame tech visa battle
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has a strong record of support for the H-1B program
By Patrick Thibodeau
November 20, 2008

The person thought to be President-elect Barack Obama's leading choice to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, has been a strong advocate of increasing H-1B visas -- a stance that could turn out to be a lightning-rod issue during her confirmation.

In testimony, speeches and a letter sent last fall to congressional leaders, Napolitano, a two-term governor, has left a clear trail of support for increasing the H-1B visa cap to address what she has argued is a shortage of skilled workers.

Napolitano's consideration by Obama for the DHS post was widely reported today, although it has not been confirmed publicly. The DHS oversees U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which manages the visa program.

Napolitano was one of 12 governors who sent a letter (download PDF) in September 2007 to congressional leaders in both parties urging an increase in the visa cap. "Until we are able to address this workforce shortage, we must recognize that foreign talent has a role to play in our ability to keep companies located in our state and country; and therefore, need to ensure the increase availability of temporary H-1B visas and permanent residency visas (green cards)," the governors wrote.

Those pushing the visa cap hike included California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and then-New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Napolitano "is as rabid a supporter of H-1B as you are likely to find," said Rob Sanchez of Chandler, Ariz., a software engineer who publishes the Job Destruction Newsletter, which is focused on technology-related labor issues.

As head of the DHS, Napolitano could not unilaterally raise the cap, which is now set at 85,000 -- a figure that includes 20,000 visas for advanced-degree graduates. Congress sets the H-1B cap, but the head of the DHS oversees how the program operates.

"Napolitano has publicly and repeatedly called for major H-1B expansion," said Ron Hira, an assistant professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology and author of Outsourcing America, and "in that respect she is no friend of American IT workers." Hira said that Napolitano believes that employers should have easier access to H-1Bs, "meaning she would try to streamline the application process even more."

In a speech at the National Press Club in February 2007 (download PDF), Napolitano also indicated that she wants to make it easier for foreign graduates of U.S. schools to get green cards, bypassing the need for H-1B visa in those cases. Napolitano believes that after they pass a background check, scientists and engineers "should have a green card stapled to their diplomas."

If Obama pushes ahead with Napolitano's nomination and she is confirmed, one thing she will have to deal with at USCIS are abuses in the H-1B program. As many as one in five H-1B petitions had problems, including fraud, according to a study recently released by the USCIS.

Arizona had been using offshore call centers to provides services to welfare recipients, but Napolitano ended the practice in 2004. A TV news report looked at the practice; an annotated copy of that report is archived on the Job Destruction site (link to video).

For the most part, Obama is bringing in a team that has forcefully advocated for increasing the use of foreign tech workers. The recession has not blunted that advocacy. Google CEO Eric Schmidt, in a speech last week in Washington, said the current policy of forcing foreign students unable to get a visa to go back home is "bizarre -- it's disgusting."

Read more about outsourcing in Computerworld's Outsourcing

The only part of your post that I don't agree with is the part about of giving green card to people with degrees. As long as its in a field we need here I want to see all the smart people in the world come here . That's the way it was before the Mexican invasion. Why is it such a problem to keep the uneducated out . We have to many home grown ones to try and find work for. what do we need more for? I guess we could cut the welfare in half . Half for the people on welfare now and half for the ones coming .

The point I was attempting to make is, the folks, Hussein included, don't care if Americans are working. They fight to import legals and illegals to take Americans jobs.

Wassa' matter, Libs? To close to the truth and to respond, you would have to agree?

Don't wanna' pissoff ya' massah?

There were 12 Governors who signed the letter to raise the cap... among them are Rick Perry, Tim Pawlenty, and Arnold Schwarnzenwegger. This whole thread is a lame attempt to bash President Obama...sure that's the American way to critisize the president but...but....wait for it.....



“He had delusions of adequacy.” — Walter Kerr

I guess this was addressed to the liberals but I will answer.

It was really not a valid complaint to make. Someone tried a bit too hard there.

The visas are to have more legal workers here instead of illegal. It wouldn't change the number of Americans working at any level.

What's the point in posting how un-American it is to not enforce immigration law and upping the caps.

Who appointed Napolitano????

Extremist Libs fail!!

LOL...it does not matter to the RW nutbaggery in this country...they will say anything...like tossing feces against the wall hoping some of it sticks. When they appeal to the dumbest element...that's what they will end up with...well they started in 2000...

Now, that unfounded statement is too funny!!

The reason we are importing skilled workers from other countries is that too many Americans sit around bellyaching about the current president instead of going out and earning doctoral degrees in engineering.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
now that list is a real brain trust . its not the highly educated we are fighting about they would creat work for us . it's the dullars we DO NOT NEED . we don't have to do any thing . the schools are turning out dumb ***** all over the country . just pay attention to these post here from liberals and you can see we have no shortage of tupi people .tupi I know this is misspelled

How ironic...

Can't we discuss SBA loans instead, or maybe that train-wreck of a "simulation" on CNN last night, "Cyber Shockwave."

Sure, in another thread.

Here the topic is opening jobs for Americans that are taken by the Illegal Invader.

Obummer and Napolitano, refuse to enforce our Immigration laws. Wouldn't not enforcing the Law be in itself illegal or are they above the law?

Welp, too bad you can't change the title...the President is committed to reforming illegal immigration in his first term...something the Dippic did nothing about... but call for a wall...walls never work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM6q-E4rThA

You want to end illegal immigration?
Go after the people that give them jobs.

I would do just that if I were head of DHS or president.
No one can answer why they don't.

If it were only that easy. They have priorities right now, two wars and a crippled economy. IF we hit businesses in this bad economy and they have to pay living wages and provide benfits many will go under. It might seem obvious that with high umemployment it would be easy to fill the jobs but the time is not right.

Also the resources are not there, local police and for that matter many towns, cities and states are struggling to get by. How much in federal spending are we talking about? Do WE have the resources while fighting two wars.

It's a matter of time...just not now. First let's fix healthcare and the economy...and GTF out of these wars.

One problem. It was one of Husseins promise to reward the law breaking invading illegal with amnesty. People forget, the illegal harms more than our economy. They have stolen identities. All those SSNs belong to someone. Ain't that a Federal crime? I know if I was caught using someone else's ID to make a life, I'd be in prison, not promised amnesty.

Another problem. If we got out of those wars, there would be an excess of military and many would discharge out. Adding to the job deficiency.