TX GOP Rep: No illegals, except for maids, lawnworkers

[Pwns]

as for the "best and brightest" we do generally do that. if you have a college degree and want to come here - or are a student in another country and want to study here - getting visa's is pretty easy - and from their the path to citizenship is pretty straightforward.

Getting an H1b visa for a foreign worker is easy. There's just not nearly enough of them. The government has a cap on the number of H1b visas and it is way too low.

[GannonFan]

as for the "best and brightest" we do generally do that. if you have a college degree and want to come here - or are a student in another country and want to study here - getting visa's is pretty easy - and from their the path to citizenship is pretty straightforward.

Getting an H1b visa for a foreign worker is easy. There's just not nearly enough of them. The government has a cap on the number of H1b visas and it is way too low.

Yup, we can bring them in as students and they get educated here, but the visa cap is so small that we end up sending a ton of those students packing back to their home countries to ply their trade there. Not sure why we put such a small cap on immigration of highly skilled people.

[dbackjon]

Getting an H1b visa for a foreign worker is easy. There's just not nearly enough of them. The government has a cap on the number of H1b visas and it is way too low.

Yup, we can bring them in as students and they get educated here, but the visa cap is so small that we end up sending a ton of those students packing back to their home countries to ply their trade there. Not sure why we put such a small cap on immigration of highly skilled people.

Maybe because there are plenty of AMERICANS that can do the same job looking for work.

[GannonFan]

Yup, we can bring them in as students and they get educated here, but the visa cap is so small that we end up sending a ton of those students packing back to their home countries to ply their trade there. Not sure why we put such a small cap on immigration of highly skilled people.

Maybe because there are plenty of AMERICANS that can do the same job looking for work.

Not as many as you think for those jobs in question, and really, this problem existed long before the current recession. I'm not talking about liberal arts majors, but people with technical degrees. What hurts too is that many first generation immigrants tend to be pretty entrepenurial - so we're basically educating people and then letting them set up businesses and jobs elsewhere. And really, when did we want to set a cap on how many really smart people we have in the country? Seems to me we'd want to maximize that number.

[dbackjon]

Maybe because there are plenty of AMERICANS that can do the same job looking for work.

Not as many as you think for those jobs in question, and really, this problem existed long before the current recession. I'm not talking about liberal arts majors, but people with technical degrees. What hurts too is that many first generation immigrants tend to be pretty entrepenurial - so we're basically educating people and then letting them set up businesses and jobs elsewhere. And really, when did we want to set a cap on how many really smart people we have in the country? Seems to me we'd want to maximize that number.

Yes, even for technical jobs. Especially now.

[Grizalltheway]

Not as many as you think for those jobs in question, and really, this problem existed long before the current recession. I'm not talking about liberal arts majors, but people with technical degrees. What hurts too is that many first generation immigrants tend to be pretty entrepenurial - so we're basically educating people and then letting them set up businesses and jobs elsewhere. And really, when did we want to set a cap on how many really smart people we have in the country? Seems to me we'd want to maximize that number.

Yes, even for technical jobs. Especially now.

I can't remember the exact number, but a VERY small percentage of doctorates in engineering, computer science, etc are earned by American citizens. Our university system is the best in the world, but very few American students enter them prepared to earn such degrees.

[Chizzang]

Yes, even for technical jobs. Especially now.

I can't remember the exact number, but a VERY small percentage of doctorates in engineering, computer science, etc are earned by American citizens. Our university system is the best in the world, but very few American students enter them prepared to earn such degrees.

D. Eng you say..?
I can tell you from experience that there were three (3) Regular old American white kids out of several hundred in the program I worked through a few years ago - I was the oldest buy a little bit and I was the only white American on my team of 12

[Pwns]

Maybe because there are plenty of AMERICANS that can do the same job looking for work.

Not as many as you think for those jobs in question, and really, this problem existed long before the current recession. I'm not talking about liberal arts majors, but people with technical degrees. What hurts too is that many first generation immigrants tend to be pretty entrepenurial - so we're basically educating people and then letting them set up businesses and jobs elsewhere. And really, when did we want to set a cap on how many really smart people we have in the country? Seems to me we'd want to maximize that number.

Dback is right in that there are plenty of people with CS and related degrees who can't find work. The problem isn't a shortage of folks with these degrees, though. The problem is that the universities don't teach the skills that are most applicable to today's tech industry job market. Too many programs teach high-level languages and other skills that 15-year-old computer geeks in India can do. A lot of tech giants like Bill Gates and Bjarne Stroustrup have been ranting and raving about this forever and it has fallen on deaf ears. And high school computer science education is dismal. Less than half have any kind of programming and only around 15% of high schools have AP computer science courses.

The same is true of engineering as well.

[89Hen]

Of course, if we just opened up immigration into this country, especially to those with plenty of skills, we may not even have this problem. I think we do too much in terms of restricting immigration into this country. Let's take in the best and the brightest from other countries and have them set up shop here. Providing some more legal ways to get here, and targetting the most capable, couldn't be a bad thing, really.

We do. I do many loans for non-permanent residents on work visas from all over the world.

[Wedgebuster]

They pay cash for their auto insurance, and never miss a payment.

[Grizalltheway]

Not as many as you think for those jobs in question, and really, this problem existed long before the current recession. I'm not talking about liberal arts majors, but people with technical degrees. What hurts too is that many first generation immigrants tend to be pretty entrepenurial - so we're basically educating people and then letting them set up businesses and jobs elsewhere. And really, when did we want to set a cap on how many really smart people we have in the country? Seems to me we'd want to maximize that number.

Dback is right in that there are plenty of people with CS and related degrees who can't find work. The problem isn't a shortage of folks with these degrees, though. The problem is that the universities don't teach the skills that are most applicable to today's tech industry job market. Too many programs teach high-level languages and other skills that 15-year-old computer geeks in India can do. A lot of tech giants like Bill Gates and Bjarne Stroustrup have been ranting and raving about this forever and it has fallen on deaf ears. And high school computer science education is dismal. Less than half have any kind of programming and only around 15% of high schools have AP computer science courses.

The same is true of engineering as well.

Well, insisting on paying teachers peanuts is no way to attract individuals capable of teaching such curriculum..

[Pwns]

Well, insisting on paying teachers peanuts is no way to attract individuals capable of teaching such curriculum..

I'm okay with creating high-paying positions for teachers to teach CS and advanced math and science courses in high schools. I'm not okay with them getting almost constant raises in a time when there are massive state budget crises on the horizon. I'm also not okay with the patently ridiculous idea that gym teachers with the same level of experience and education should make as much money as the teacher who teaches AP Calculus and whose students pass at a high rate. Which is an idea that teacher's unions and other entrenched special interests fight to preserve.

[GannonFan]

Of course, if we just opened up immigration into this country, especially to those with plenty of skills, we may not even have this problem. I think we do too much in terms of restricting immigration into this country. Let's take in the best and the brightest from other countries and have them set up shop here. Providing some more legal ways to get here, and targetting the most capable, couldn't be a bad thing, really.

We do. I do many loans for non-permanent residents on work visas from all over the world.

That's great. We just need more of them. Those visa limits get filled every year in about the first month of the year. There's no reason why we should be turning away so many talented and skilled people.

[GannonFan]

Well, insisting on paying teachers peanuts is no way to attract individuals capable of teaching such curriculum..

I'm okay with creating high-paying positions for teachers to teach CS and advanced math and science courses in high schools. I'm not okay with them getting almost constant raises in a time when there are massive state budget crises on the horizon. I'm also not okay with the patently ridiculous idea that gym teachers with the same level of experience and education should make as much money as the teacher who teaches AP Calculus and whose students pass at a high rate. Which is an idea that teacher's unions and other entrenched special interests fight to preserve.

Lot of truth there. Teacher unions, while I think are generally good and are certainly still necessary, have blocked most attempts to differentiate their members based on need.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I'm okay with creating high-paying positions for teachers to teach CS and advanced math and science courses in high schools. I'm not okay with them getting almost constant raises in a time when there are massive state budget crises on the horizon. I'm also not okay with the patently ridiculous idea that gym teachers with the same level of experience and education should make as much money as the teacher who teaches AP Calculus and whose students pass at a high rate. Which is an idea that teacher's unions and other entrenched special interests fight to preserve.

Lot of truth there. Teacher unions, while I think are generally good and are certainly still necessary, have blocked most attempts to differentiate their members based on need.

actually - the big hurdle in many states is to get the unions to accept alternate teacher license programs... most CS instructors (and many science instructors in general) do not have traditional education backgrounds - thus making it harder for them to transition in to teaching...

[dbackjon]

Lot of truth there. Teacher unions, while I think are generally good and are certainly still necessary, have blocked most attempts to differentiate their members based on need.

actually - the big hurdle in many states is to get the unions to accept alternate teacher license programs... most CS instructors (and many science instructors in general) do not have traditional education backgrounds - thus making it harder for them to transition in to teaching...

I thought NCLB made that even harder to do...

[TwinTownBisonFan]

actually - the big hurdle in many states is to get the unions to accept alternate teacher license programs... most CS instructors (and many science instructors in general) do not have traditional education backgrounds - thus making it harder for them to transition in to teaching...

I thought NCLB made that even harder to do...

yup.

[kalm]

Kids are fat, stressed, bored, and stupid - just like adults. PE is just as important as CS. PE teachers should be payed well too.

[native]

There is no compromise you are either illegal or legal.

Thats the law, yes....it is that simple. If you dont like it then change the law.


Until then spend whatever it takes to ship these criminals back to their own country. Consider it a tax for this country not enforcing the laws on the books for the last 50 years.

[native]

Maybe because there are plenty of AMERICANS that can do the same job looking for work.

Not as many as you think for those jobs in question, and really, this problem existed long before the current recession. I'm not talking about liberal arts majors, but people with technical degrees. What hurts too is that many first generation immigrants tend to be pretty entrepenurial - so we're basically educating people and then letting them set up businesses and jobs elsewhere. And really, when did we want to set a cap on how many really smart people we have in the country? Seems to me we'd want to maximize that number.

[native]

...
The only way it can be stopped, or curbed, is to end all entitlements/welfare programs and get those lazy & useless people to fill the void. Even then I don’t know of any US citizens that will do some of the shitty back breaking jobs that are heavily dependent on illegal labor (agribusiness).

Like I said, "we ain't goin' nowhere."

[SDHornet]

Oh businesses wouldnt like what I would do to them if they were caught hiring illegal workers.

I didnt intend to project that it was OK for them to do that, I would start with getting the illegals out at all costs then parallel that with sweeping asskicking and fines for any business hiring these people. The cost of hiring illegals would go above and beyond the money they think they would be saving, with the fines and jail time that would rain down on them early and often.

This is a good idea and I have no problem with this. My question is who will fill the labor void left when the cheap labor is deported? Business owners stand to lose tons of money when they find that their workforce has been deported and not many people will be willing to do the work.

I guess an extremely bright group of people can come up with some exemptions regarding who can stay?

[Skjellyfetti]

I guess an extremely bright group of people can come up with some exemptions regarding who can stay?

[native]

Of course, if we just opened up immigration into this country, especially to those with plenty of skills, we may not even have this problem. I think we do too much in terms of restricting immigration into this country. Let's take in the best and the brightest from other countries and have them set up shop here. Providing some more legal ways to get here, and targetting the most capable, couldn't be a bad thing, really.

We already allow and encourage as much or more LEGAL immigration as any country in the world.

But I agree we should make legal immigration of skilled immigrants even easier. And I would add more guest worker visas. One key enabler of a successful immigration reform would be to significantly reduce the welfare state programs which encourage sloth among citizens and is part of the reason for the immigration in the first place.

P.S. The b1tch is an embarrasing fvcking idiot.

[BDKJMU]

Oh businesses wouldnt like what I would do to them if they were caught hiring illegal workers.

I didnt intend to project that it was OK for them to do that, I would start with getting the illegals out at all costs then parallel that with sweeping asskicking and fines for any business hiring these people. The cost of hiring illegals would go above and beyond the money they think they would be saving, with the fines and jail time that would rain down on them early and often.

This is a good idea and I have no problem with this. My question is who will fill the labor void left when the cheap labor is deported? Business owners stand to lose tons of money when they find that their workforce has been deported and not many people will be willing to do the work.

I guess an extremely bright group of people can come up with some exemptions regarding who can stay?

I've said it on here before. Of course if Americans can stay on unemployment for up to 3 years and welfare for up to 3 years they're not going to do those jobs that the illegals do. Deport the illegals, take away the extended unemployment and welfare and you'd be able to find plenty of Americans to do those jobs in agriculture, construction, landscaping, hotels, restaurants, factories, etc, etc. They would have 2 choices: Be willing to do those jobs, or starve.