I actually tend to agree with the economics of the “there are some jobs Americans just won’t do” argument, but it ignores the reality of just how hard it is to navigate our immigration system. Numbers show that immigrants commit crimes at lower levels and attain education at higher levels than those of us born here, so I am sure there are numbers supporting the assumption that immigrants tend to show up to work at higher levels as well. The problem is that the individuals that will have permanent immigration status approved by USCIS are the exact kinds of people who generally won't fill basic manufacturing jobs due to the advanced skills or unique knowledge that got them through the immigration process in the first place, with the exception of the medical professions. I think it's safe to say that many green card holders are also refusing "those jobs". Further, the advanced manufacturing jobs we are creating today through things like the CHIPS act often require "US Person" status, which is not automatically conferred for asylum seekers or refugees.
That’s an interesting argument. I think the counter would be that while those immigrants who receive permanent status for work-related reasons are generally well-educated/skilled, the same cannot be said, at least with the same confidence, for immigrants getting here via family or seasonal work visas or without documentation. Only a fraction of green cards and visas are reserved for work-based migrants, so I think you could safely make the generalization that most immigrants are not coming and going straight to advanced computing jobs. Am I following your argument correctly?
Yes, and while you are right that only a fraction of green cards are issued for those considered priority workers (I would argue that quota needs to be increased drastically or eliminated), the vast majority of non-immigrant H1-B visas (college degree required) are in fact for computing and information technology jobs. We have carve outs for agricultural workers, but nothing for basic manufacturing. Non-immigrant workers also aren't considered US Persons like green card holders are for advanced manufacturing or aerospace/defense tooling work. I guess what I am trying to say is that the “there are some jobs Americans just won’t do” way of thinking has real merit, but our current state of affairs ensures that those coming here permanently behave and think like Americans, which rightfully should be the goal. Like you said, the polling shows that immigration is an important issue, but I think most people just assume illegal immigration when they respond to those questions, so they think the less the better. There are obvious solutions here, but the issue will remain politically toxic as long as the public debate refuses to seriously discuss policy and differentiate between immigrants, refugees, and non-immigrant workers.
I actually tend to agree with the economics of the “there are some jobs Americans just won’t do” argument, but it ignores the reality of just how hard it is to navigate our immigration system. Numbers show that immigrants commit crimes at lower levels and attain education at higher levels than those of us born here, so I am sure there are numbers supporting the assumption that immigrants tend to show up to work at higher levels as well. The problem is that the individuals that will have permanent immigration status approved by USCIS are the exact kinds of people who generally won't fill basic manufacturing jobs due to the advanced skills or unique knowledge that got them through the immigration process in the first place, with the exception of the medical professions. I think it's safe to say that many green card holders are also refusing "those jobs". Further, the advanced manufacturing jobs we are creating today through things like the CHIPS act often require "US Person" status, which is not automatically conferred for asylum seekers or refugees.
That’s an interesting argument. I think the counter would be that while those immigrants who receive permanent status for work-related reasons are generally well-educated/skilled, the same cannot be said, at least with the same confidence, for immigrants getting here via family or seasonal work visas or without documentation. Only a fraction of green cards and visas are reserved for work-based migrants, so I think you could safely make the generalization that most immigrants are not coming and going straight to advanced computing jobs. Am I following your argument correctly?
Yes, and while you are right that only a fraction of green cards are issued for those considered priority workers (I would argue that quota needs to be increased drastically or eliminated), the vast majority of non-immigrant H1-B visas (college degree required) are in fact for computing and information technology jobs. We have carve outs for agricultural workers, but nothing for basic manufacturing. Non-immigrant workers also aren't considered US Persons like green card holders are for advanced manufacturing or aerospace/defense tooling work. I guess what I am trying to say is that the “there are some jobs Americans just won’t do” way of thinking has real merit, but our current state of affairs ensures that those coming here permanently behave and think like Americans, which rightfully should be the goal. Like you said, the polling shows that immigration is an important issue, but I think most people just assume illegal immigration when they respond to those questions, so they think the less the better. There are obvious solutions here, but the issue will remain politically toxic as long as the public debate refuses to seriously discuss policy and differentiate between immigrants, refugees, and non-immigrant workers.
How do you square your response with people with pending asylum applications or temporary protected status?