I am simply sick and tired of the immigrant bashing that’s going on in this country – the United States, also known as the Land of Opportunity. By now, it is the worst cliché to say that America is a country of immigrants; however, we all have such a short memory… Historically, whenever things went wrong, it was always about ‘the others’ and never about ‘us’. It is too bad that we never learned from our past mistakes and simply repeat them. Let us now examine what terrible things immigrants do to this country and the people who loudly complain about them.

1. Myth or truth? Immigrants are taking advantage of the American taxpayers…

A country’s future is often assessed by the population’s average age. Europe’s glory has faded and Japan’s economy is unlikely to improve very much. Why? Because their population is aging and the countries are becoming less productive and more burdened with social benefits. American society would be in a similar boat and its social security system should collapse soon but for the continuing influx of immigrants who are young, vibrant, and hard- working.

Foreign workers on H-1Bs, who are wrongly but largely blamed for the natives’ job loss, pay social security taxes out of their pay check, without ever knowing if they will stay more than their initial 3 years of H-1B authorized stay. These professional workers can be fired at the whim of their employers and receive no legal ‘grace period’ to stay while they think over the next steps for their future. When that happens, they are not entitled to unemployment insurance, although they paid for it, since they have to leave promptly under the law; their house and/or possessions have to be sold, or lease must end abruptly, and their children cannot finish out their school year.

The same applies to even undocumented aliens. A majority of undocumented aliens are paying taxes as well – whether through a false social security card or tax identification number and through everyday purchases and rent. The true culprits of our broken tax system are the rich and corporations who take advantage of tax shelters, schemes and government subsidies. Don’t tell me what awful things immigrants do to you; they pay for our elderly, highway, Medicare, school, and even the war in Iraq.

2. Myth or truth? Foreign students are terrorists…

Believe it or not, a reputable source states that America’s two largest industries are Hollywood and Education. Yes, education is a profitable business and its income is largely driven from foreign students. Without their tuition and living expenses, many jobs in colleges, college towns, and related industries would be lost. Even then, it’s reported everywhere how many students miss their academic year because of visa delays at the US consulates, and once they get here, how many students fall out of status because their inept foreign students advisors do not adequately guide them through the maze of legal procedures; too often they must leave the United States without completing their intended course of study and/or with bitter memories.

It goes without saying that the issuance of student’s visa to the terrorists of 9/11 was an isolated problem and a minor one in the larger scheme of things. Then, why turn hostile to these true benefactors when terrorism was really a result of decades of American foreign policy failure? How stupid can it be to treat the symptom without treating the cause? These individuals are one of this country’s most important resources. By doing so we destroy the opportunity to connect with future leaders of other nations.

Foreign students do not just study, spend money, and leave. They also learn about American values, our culture and our people and grow in harmony with us. When they return to their own country, or decide or find a way to stay here, you bet that they want to do business with Americans, opening up and using their connections back home. They also learn to us and understand American perspectives. Globalization is not just a temptation; it is a fact that the rest of the world already has grasped. The hostile treatment foreign students experience at the US consulates abroad during the visa application process will not likely to be erased from their mind. Face it. Foreign students are gold nuggets lying in our riverbeds. Do not take them for granted. The golden goose might finally get fed up and stop producing.

3. Myth or truth? Foreign scientists are industrial and military spies…

Jobs in scientific research labs are not popular to Americans. The pay is low, glamour is rare, and hours are long. Foreign scientists, Ph.D.s, and Post-Docs are doing a significant amount of American research. And yet most university and government labs and research centers have a policy not to sponsor immigrant petitions for these talented scientists to continue their research. The reason behind such a policy is unclear to normal people like me and doesn’t make any sense at all. Their work, performed usually under much suspicion and a paycheck barely above the poverty line, is regularly stolen by the star principal investigators.

How many famous and award-winning American scientists and industrialists are in fact immigrants themselves or children of immigrants? With the increasing difficulty of obtaining visas and green cards for the “best and the brightest”, we are on the way to losing our technology lead in the world.

4. Myth or truth? There is a severe shortage of medical doctors in the United States…

This one is true. However, you wouldn’t believe how this shortage is being handled. Most foreign doctors, whether trained in the U.S. or not, if they are to work longer than a few years allowed under a J-1 temporary visa, must obtain a waiver from the two year home residency requirement – a little provision attached to the J-1 medical trainee visa – and then apply for green card. In order to get this residency requirement waived, obtain longer-term stability, and not disrupt their family and career, they must go through an arduous process. Most times, the only option they have is to commit and practice 5 years in an underserved area with a meager salary and have to forego all chances of advancement; such a decision can affect their career for the rest of their lives. Is this what we really want?

Do you still believe immigrants are taking advantage of our country and our tax money?

5. Myth or truth? Thorough checks of the visa applications and immigrant petitions are making the U.S. a more secure country…

Readily approvable visa applications are taking months and adjustment applications are taking years. This is caused by bureaucratic inefficiency and lassitude?. For example, foreign workers, who already have an approved immigrant petition, must go through a final step, called ‘adjustment of status’. During this process, the Immigration Service checks the applicants’ criminal and medical record. Fingerprint result, which should be fairly automatic, miraculously does not get done for over a year when they are finally ordered by Immigration. When an individual contacts the FBI, such a check is done in less than 60 days! Medical exams are already completed by Immigration designated doctors and submitted at the time of application. Why should it take more than two years to check these? And you know what? While waiting for this process to be completed, the applicants must renew time and again their work authorization and travel permits. The annual renewals of work authorizations and travel permits take months, sometimes more than half a year… By the time it has been issued, it’s time to renew it again. What is the point of this nonsensical waste of resources?

Employment-based immigration now takes about 3-5 years to complete. The beneficiaries of this process are usually already working for their U.S. employers when the process began. Many U.S. employers have a policy not to sponsor immigrant petition until the foreign worker has worked for the company for two years or three years, etc. Many of these foreigners are talented and wanted in many places. However, they do not receive the same salary increase, bonus, or incentives because the employer knows that these foreign employees do not have the mobility that US workers have; they must stay with the employer and wait for the immigration process to be completed. While employees have this reason to stay with the employer, the employer can lay them off whenever they feel a pinch. Is this in our country’s best interest? Doesn’t the nation benefit from individual growth?

Conclusion

Some people call the above a ‘conspiracy’, a secret pact between the US government and employers. The illogical and inefficient system does not allow our nation to benefit from immigrants, as much as we should Immigrants have always been the quiet engines of American society. It is about time to stop blaming ‘the others’, give proper credit where due, and work for our mutual benefit since it is a truly symbiotic one. Allow them just a little more freedom to pursue their dream: the entire society will reap the benefit.