For the record, I support immigration, whether general immigration or for other reasons. To this point, I think it would been totally acceptable to allow the entire population of Syria to either immigrate the US ( green cards on arrival ) or grant safe harbor to those who want to return home until such time as it's safe.
With respect to H1-B: in case I haven't been absolutely clear, I think its socially unjust to make American workers compete with foreign nationals for jobs. This has nothing to do with immigration.
It'd be fine by me. But I'm a job thief. Unless I become a US citizen. At which point I'm still the same person, but somehow it's OK.
>> So if tomorrow it was possible to become a US citizen by filling out a web form and paying $50, that'd be fine by you?
No, citizenship should never be for sale. Otherwise it's meaningless. You should be allowed to immigrate legally provided you can satisfy the requirements of our immigration program.
>> But I'm a job thief.
Please note that those are your words, not mine. I don't view people here on work visas as job thieves. My remarks are framed exclusively around what's best for Americans: it is socially unjust to make Americans compete with foreign nationals for jobs.
If I could become a US citizen for free (and I can't, by the way), would you drop your objection?
Edit for your edit:
> Please note that those are your words, not mine.
I'm using the words protectionists like yourself have commonly used.
Other than the application costs, I think it is more or less free to become a US citizen.
>> I'm using the words protectionists like yourself have commonly used.
Noted
It takes years, can cost thousands of legal fees (not something you want to mess up) and typically starts with a work visa like an H1B.
You keep avoiding the question, so I'll restate it differently.
If everyone on the H1B could become a US citizen instantly, at no cost, would that remove your objection?
Many people are the natural-born children of migrants. Are they job thieves?
Some people had ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower. Is everyone else a job thief?
Some people are descended from the aboriginal inhabitants of the continent. Is everyone else a thief?
Aren't you?