Tech Worker Visas

* Re “Congress Raises Visa Quota for Tech Workers,” Oct. 4: American companies, unwilling to pay competitive rates for high-tech workers, entice foreign labor to toil for substandard wages with the false hope of permanent U.S. residency. Congress, abandoning any pretense of representing the interests of American workers, enacts all but unanimous legislation allowing this behavior while at the same time feeding at the trough of money stolen from these hapless immigrants. The cynicism, greed and selfishness exhibited is nothing short of breathtaking.

JAMES HUDSON

San Marcos

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Congress has passed the bill to increase H-1B visas to please the Internet industry. The visas are temporary--good for as long as six years. But, not to worry, it is difficult to convert from an H-1B to permanent resident. I’d like to see some facts.

During the past 10 years, how many H-1Bs have been issued? Of the total number, how many of the H-1B visa holders have converted to permanent residents, how many have returned to their home country and how many have simply stayed and are, therefore, illegal? I doubt that very many have returned to their home country. And, how many have had children born in this country, who are now automatically American citizens?

COLETTE MEYER

Redondo Beach