Will the American technology industry be able to convince Congress to solve legal immigration?

So much of the public debate on comprehensive immigration reform focused on unlawful immigration. Most pundits would have us think the debate is whether the country needs more fences along the border or free distribution of US passports to illegal aliens.

But what about legal immigration? If unlawful immigration is too divisive, then at least solve the needs of those following the rules.

American technology companies create large numbers of jobs in America. These companies provide the economic engine the drives not only the tech sector, but so much of our economy. These employers make a compelling case for enacting lawful immigration reform that will help make them - and therefore, America - more competitive in the global economy. Failure to act only drives more jobs offshore.

See Tech industry to keep pressing visa needs - immigration reform's collapse gets firms looking abroad, Mercury News, July 10, 2007, for an update on what the technology industry is doing and what support they are getting from leaders in Congress.