Key to innovation and broad international leadership.

To meet our rapidly evolving national security needs and achieve lasting economic growth, the United States must foster a 21st-century science and technology workforce that employs the creativity and ideas of people from across the country and worldwide. We can out-compete China and other highly populous nations only if we draw upon the talents of all Americans and leverage our history as a welcoming nation to attract, educate and retain a global science and technology talent pool.

Highly skilled immigrants are behind many of scientific breakthroughs that have powered our country’s national security and economic growth. These include co-founders of two of the biggest semiconductor chip manufacturers in the United States, Qualcomm and Intel, and many more. Yet, our woefully outdated immigration system is causing many to pack their bags, take their world-class education, U.S. degrees, and research, and leave.

More than half of those with doctorates in artificial intelligence leave the United States, citing a flawed U.S. immigration system as the primary motivation. Amid intensifying global competition over artificial intelligence, semiconductors, 5G and emerging industries of the future, the U.S. routinely forces STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) degree holders to return to their home countries after graduation regardless of whether they desire to remain here and pursue a research career.

Meanwhile, China has crafted a national strategy and pipeline to lure the diaspora home and attract similar talent from other countries. To reverse this trend, we must remove these barriers to high-skilled immigration that are detrimental to our national security and global competitiveness. Allowing advanced STEMM degree holders to apply for a Green Card upon graduation — without negatively affecting other applicants by exempting the count against the overall cap — is an excellent place to start.