Apple CEO Tim Cook Urges U.S. Senate to Pass the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

[MacRumors]

Apple CEO Tim Cook this week tweeted in support of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, urging the U.S. Senate to move quickly to pass the bipartisan bill, which would eliminate per-country limits on employment-based green cards and increase per-country limits for family-sponsored green cards.

"Immigrants make this country stronger and our economy more dynamic," said Cook. "As a first step toward needed comprehensive reform, I urge the Senate to move quickly to pass the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The contributions of these workers are critical to America's future."

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the High-Skilled Immigrants Act in July, but the Senate has so far blocked the bill.

Apple and Cook frequently back pro-immigration legislation. Earlier this month, for example, Cook lent his name to Apple's amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy that protects "Dreamers" from deportation.

Immigrants make this country stronger and our economy more dynamic. As a first step toward needed comprehensive reform, I urge the Senate to move quickly to pass the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The contributions of these workers are critical to America's future. - Tim Cook (@tim_cook) October 17, 2019

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Article Link: Apple CEO Tim Cook Urges U.S. Senate to Pass the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

 

[okboy]

Very plainly a plan to brain drain other nations and reduce wages. Shame.

 

[Plutonius]

Why wouldn't Apple want it ?

Cheap foreign labor.

 

[iKrivetko]

Why wouldn't Apple want it ?

Cheap foreign labor.

> Relocating software engineers to Bay Area
> Cheap

 

[magicschoolbus]

Tim Cook always chiming in on US Politics with his ideology, yet can't make a peep about Hong Kong.

Put your money where your mouth is Cook.

 

[PastaPrimav]

Can someone explain to me why these people are completely incapable of distinguishing between legal immigrants and illegal aliens?

Do they legitimately not know the difference, or do they just pretend because it would conflict with their agenda?

"Immigrants make this country stronger and our economy more dynamic," I agree Tim. Whole heartedly. My family immgirated here from Italy 90+ years ago. Legally. And then assimilated, and built this country into something amazing.

That's altogether different from the people who's first act of entering the U.S. is a crime. And statistically, not the last either.

 

[benshive]

Can someone explain to me why these people are completely incapable of distinguishing between legal immigrants and illegal aliens?

Do they legitimately not know the difference, or do they just pretend because it would conflict with their agenda?

"Immigrants make this country stronger and our economy more dynamic," I agree Tim. Whole heartedly. My family immgirated here from Italy 90+ years ago. Legally. And then assimilated, and built this country into something amazing.

That's altogether different from the people who's first act of entering the U.S. is a crime. And statistically, not the last either.

The measure Tim is supporting here is for legal immigrant workers. Who are "these people" in this story that brought up illegal immigrants at all?

 

[citysnaps]

Tim Cook always chiming in on US Politics with his ideology, yet can't make a peep about Hong Kong.

Put your money where your mouth is Cook.

Yes, when it has to do with matters concerning Apple, as any other CEO would for the company and employees they're responsible for.

You disingenuously left out that crucial aspect.

 

[now i see it]

because it affects Apple's bottom line and likely the quality of their products. Think Catalina is bad now? Betcha if they cleaned house of all immigrants it'd more of a train wreck than it already is. Ditto for iOS.

 

[benshive]

Yes, when it has to do with matters concerning Apple, as any other CEO would for the company they're responsible for.

You disingenuously left out that crucial aspect.

That's just silly. If a CEO mentions a political issue of course they have to mention all of the rest of them or else they're being disingenuous
/s

 

[WWPD]

The picture just needs dollar signs photoshopped into his eyes to be complete.

 

[citysnaps]

That's just silly. If a CEO mentions a political issue of course they have to mention all of the rest of them or else they're being disingenuous
/s

Sorry, I'm not getting what you're trying to say. Even with the /s.

 

[benshive]

Sorry, I'm not getting what you're trying to say. Even with the /s.

I was being sarcastic

 

[Blackstick]

It's no surprise... people want $150,000/year minimum anywhere near San Francisco to code. We have folks in India doing it for $24/hour.

 

[norbinhouston]

because it affects Apple's bottom line and likely the quality of their products. Think Catalina is bad now? Betcha if they cleaned house of all immigrants it'd more of a train wreck than it already is. Ditto for iOS.

What are you talking about, its probably those immigrants that caused the bad OS's.

 

[citysnaps]

It's no surprise... people want $150,000/year minimum anywhere near San Francisco to code. We have folks in India doing it for $24/hour.

But that's in India. Are you saying that $24/hour would be the wage if they immigrated to the Bay Area and worked for Apple?

 

[nvmls]

"Immigrants make my wallet bulkier"

Fixed it for ya Tim.

 

[allenvanhellen]

We don’t have enough talented citizens to fill the necessary positions? I’m asking seriously, not rhetorically. If we don’t, we need to seriously boost STEM programs.

 

[azpekt]

It's no surprise... people want $150,000/year minimum anywhere near San Francisco to code. We have folks in India doing it for $24/hour.

That sometimes might explain why that code really reminds of "it". You know, horror movie with a clown.

 

[DominikHoffmann]

Even legal immigration can depress pay. In this case at the high end. H-1B have contributed to salaries having plateaued or dropped slightly since the 1970s, if you correct for inflation.

 

[hudson1]

I can see why the Senate is not looking to pass the bill as-is. As noted, there is a bizarre provision that helps companies like Apple but hurts just about everyone else who wants a green card:

"Under current rules, citizens of India are getting about 25% of all the professional employment green cards each year. If this bill becomes law citizens of India will get more than 90% of the professional employment green cards, according to USCIS – for at least the next 10 years. Green cards would be unavailable to applicants from all other parts of the world (and many other occupations) for at least a decade."

Fact Sheet on HR 1044, Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act

This bill would dramatically change our employment green card distribution system by eliminating a safeguard that prevents green card numbers from being monopolized by citizens of one or two countries.

cis.org

 

[Glockworkorange]

Tim Cook always chiming in on US Politics with his ideology, yet can't make a peep about Hong Kong.

Put your money where your mouth is Cook.

That would take "courage" and "not giving a damn about the bloody ROI."

 

[Bruce Patterson]

Why wouldn't Apple want it ?

Cheap foreign labor.

It's not cheap if they bring them to the US!

 

[GalileoSeven]

because it affects Apple's bottom line and likely the quality of their products. Think Catalina is bad now? Betcha if they cleaned house of all immigrants it'd more of a train wreck than it already is. Ditto for iOS.

Bull. The ones Apple has now are probably part of the problem

 

[Bruce Patterson]

The measure Tim is supporting here is for legal immigrant workers. Who are "these people" in this story that brought up illegal immigrants at all?

What he's saying is that I would bet MOST people are fine with immigrants who come here legally - so to say that "immigration is important" should be obvious. He is making a political statement implying that the current administration is against immigration - which they aren't.