The Impact of the Children of Immigrants on Scientific Achievement in America
This report by the National Foundation for American Policy finds that, although the U.S. population comprises only 12 percent foreign-born people, 70 percent of the finalists of the 2011 Intel Science Talent Search competition had foreign-born parents. The study also finds that 60 percent of the finalists of this prestigious science competition are the children of former H-1B holders, while this group is only one percent of the total U.S. population.
Many immigrant parents emphasize education, particularly in math and science, viewing this as a path to success in America. An important implication of the study is that preventing the entry of H-1B visa holders, skilled immigrants and family-sponsored immigrants would shut off the flow of a key segment of America's next generation of scientists and engineers – the children of immigrants – because we would not have allowed in their parents. The benefit America derives from the children of immigrants in science and math is an additional advantage the country reaps from being open to talent from around the world.
Anderson, Stuart. (2011). The Impact of the Children of Immigrants on Scientific Achievement in America (policy brief). Arlington, VA: National Foundation for American Policy. Retrieved from http://www.nfap.com/pdf/Children_of_Immigrants_in_Science_and_Math_NFAP_Policy_Brief_May_2011.pdf