Immigration reform is key to creating a semiconductor industry.

Semiconductor production is incredibly complex, and at all stages requires a workforce that is not just highly skilled but also possesses hands-on experience. Consequently, international engineers at TSMC, Samsung, and other manufacturers represent a “critical competitive advantage in the chipmaking industry,”[1] and requiring the U.S. industry to grow solely using the domestic workforce would deprive manufacturers of critically important workers who possess the on-the-ground knowledge necessary for success immediately.

Historically, attracting thousands of high-skilled and experienced workers has proven central for successful industrial policy around the globe. During its infancy, Taiwan’s now-dominant semiconductor industry drew from the diaspora of thousands of Taiwanese living in the U.S. who possessed hands-on experience in the U.S. industry, which at the time was the global hub for advanced chip manufacturing. At the company’s beginning, the majority of TSMC’s executive team had experience in the U.S. working for Motorola, Intel, or Texas Instruments.[2] When China sought to replicate Taiwan’s successful policy push, they realized foreign talent was central and hired thousands of experienced engineers from Taiwan.[3] Again and again, countries tailoring industrial policy to boost semiconductor manufacturing have recognized the centrality of experienced, high-skilled immigrants to get off the ground.