Comment by bhouston | Hacker News Reader

Comment by bhouston | Hacker News Reader

I know it is a bit heartless, but this has a positive side to it.

The current wave of layoffs are coincident with the rise of significantly novel AI algorithms that will create a ton of new opportunities. There are going to be 1000s of AI startups, more than there would have been without these layoffs. If immigration laws force highly skilled developers to return home, then many of those startups will be located outside of the US. This would be good for their home countries, and less so for the US.

A personal tragedy for those who have build up lives here and will see that destroyed in a matter of months, but a net benefit for the rest of the world in the long run. It is things like this that reduce discrepancies between developed and developing nations - whether intentional or not.

And if their planes crash on their way home even better:

- less jet fuel consumed, preventing climate change

- the insurance money goes to underdeveloped countries, lowering income inequality

- the VCs get a chance to reallocate their capital, thus leading a more market dynamics

> And if their planes crash on their way home even better

H1B visas are pretty horrible. It is like servitude in that it is nearly impossible to get a green card. It is a poor system. At least in Canada you can get a permanent resident in 6 to 12 months.

That's too short for a marriage license nevermind a commitment for citizenship. Two or three years use to be the standard and it gives the person enough time to create roots before giving up on the country of birth.

We allow for dual citizenship so it doesn't mean they are giving up on their country of birth.

What in the David Eastman is all this?

Easy to say when it doesn’t effect you. Lots of things would be good for the world that would foist suffering on a small group of people but that’s not how we try to do things.

Well, I guess as a non-US citizen I have no control or influence on US immigration policy. I think it hurts both the US as a whole as well as the individuals involved.

Cross pollination is incredibly important though. I've seen it in my personal experiences. Taking back Silicon Valley and other big company experience and operational knowledge back to their home countries and then applying it there is a massive benefit to their home countries's competitiveness.

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