Foreign-born entrepreneurs have founded a fourth of U.S. engineering and tech companies since 1995, including giants Google, Yahoo and eBay.
Foreign students are more than 70 percent of enrollment in U.S. graduate electrical-engineering programs, 63 percent in computer science and 60 percent in industrial engineering.
The engine of U.S. might and creativity is literally in the hands of these students, most of whom want to stay. Yet antiquated, tin-eared U.S. immigration laws will force many to leave.
The undocumented are at the heart of the president's executive orders on immigration announced in November. But some of these thoughtfully crafted directives go as far as possible within the president's powers to keep foreign engineers and scientists from hitting the proverbial immigration wall and walking away.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2015/09/18/the-impact-of-immigrants-on-u-s-businesses/