FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 24, 2012                                                                                      

Contact:  Frances Cox

The Fratelli Group

202-822-9491

 

 

Washington, D.C. – The American Council on International Personnel (ACIP) today applauded President Barack Obama for recognizing in his 2012 State of the Union Address the importance of highly educated, foreign-born professionals to America’s innovation ecosystem and urged his Administration and Congress to move beyond words and to enact legislation this year that would, once and for all, fix the U.S. employment-based immigration system.

 

“America’s 21^st century economy demands a workforce that is trained in the skills that will drive economic growth, job creation and innovation far into the future,” said ACIP Executive Director Lynn Shotwell. “Increasing the domestic pipeline of talent is a must.  So too is allowing top world talent – especially those educated in our universities in business, science and engineering, as President Obama said – to stay in America and contribute to U.S. growth.”

 

In further recognition of the importance of foreign-born innovators to U.S. economic growth and job creation, First Lady Michelle Obama invited Mike Krieger, born in Brazil and the co-founder of a U.S. startup, to join her for tonight’s speech. After graduating with both bachelor’s and advanced STEM degrees from Stanford University, Krieger worked in America on a high-skilled H-1B visa and created his company, Instagram, which now has over 15 million users. He has applied for a green card so that he can stay in America and continue contributing to the U.S. economy.

 

“Mr. Krieger is the prime example of talent America can not afford to lose,” said Shotwell.  “We encourage all stakeholders to come together on this issue and move beyond the rhetoric to enact new policies for a new world – and make a U.S. economy that is built to last.”

 

Learn more about solutions for job creation and economic growth through high-skilled immigration reform in ACIP’s primer.  Learn more about ACIP at www.acip.com.  

 

 

The American Council on International Personnel (ACIP) represents employers working to speed U.S. economic recovery, create new jobs for all Americans and advance American innovation.  Our members are companies, universities, research institutions and organizations that employ the critical talent that has and will continue to build the U.S. economy and raise the standard of living for all Americans.  We build the workforces necessary to keep America on the cutting edge of worldwide innovation and leading the global economy.  Learn more at www.acip.com.

 

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