The cover story in the July 23 Tribune Magazine highlighted a situation that is both tragic and avoidable.
Due to their undocumented status, tens of thousands of immigrant students with good grades like the girls in your story, Angie and Maria, are denied a chance at the American dream.
Many had no choice in the matter, coming to the U.S. with their parents at a young age and living in America all of their lives.
It’s in our nation’s best interest to provide these talented students the opportunity to earn their way to legal status by attending college or joining the military.
It is ironic that we tell these talented young people to leave and then search the world over for nurses, doctors, scientists and engineers to boost our economy.
In 2005, the U.S. issued nearly 266,000 H-1B visas.
These visas allow American companies and universities to bring foreign scientists, health-care workers and other professionals into the United States.
And our brain gain is often another country’s brain drain.
A new World Health Organization report identifies increasing migration of health workers from the poorest countries to the richest as representing a “loss of hope and years of investment.”
Africa loses 20,000 health professionals each year.
Ethiopia has only three doctors per 100,000 people.
And yet there are more Ethiopian-trained doctors in Chicago than there are in Ethiopia.
While it may be convenient to fill the U.S. shortage of health professionals by looking overseas, I believe we need a more balanced approach–one that will utilize the talents of the bright young people who are already here.
People like Angie and Maria.
America is a land of opportunity and compassion.
Any real solution to this problem must reflect both.
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