FWD.us Launching Arizona Coalition To Address Immigration Reform KJZZ It aims to keep the business community involved in the discussion over immigration reform. They say to keep America competitive in the global economy common sense immigration reform is key. Today, they're launching a new Arizona Coalition that includes ... |
Continued here:
FWD.us Launching Arizona Coalition To Address Immigration Reform - KJZZ
The Trump Administration could soon make it more difficult for talented immigrants to obtain tech jobs in the United States. As President Trump takes aim at technology companies throughout the nation who use H-1B visas and a variety of other business visa programs to bring skilled foreign workers into the workforce, science and technology sectors of the economy could suffer a significant blow.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows foreign workers to obtain temporary employment in the U.S. It is designed to help satisfy the need for skilled workers who have a Bachelors Degree or higher, or who have a combination of education and experience that equals a Bachelors Degree or higher.
Each year, thousands of highly educated, skilled foreign workers attempt to secure one of about 85,000 H-1B visas. About two-thirds of those who are successful go on to pursue careers in technology. Illinois ranks in the top five for states that hire the most workers via the program. A recent CNN report states that approximately 70 percent of H-1B workers come from India, and another 10 percent are from China. Some of the most sought after positions for H-1B visas in 2016 include:
Demand for workers in technology was three-times more than the number allowed in 2016.
In addition to H-1B visas, a number of other business visa programs that are important to the tech community could be facing reform. The J-1 visa program, which is used by foreign workers on summer work travel, the OPT program, used by foreign students after graduating, the E-2 visa used by investors, and the L-1 visa program, which is used by foreign workers who are transferring from a companys overseas location, are all subject to review.
Over half of all unicorn (privately held) companies worth $1 billion or more are founded by at least one immigrant. The National Foundation for American Policy reports that about 760 jobs in the United States have been created by each immigrant founder.
According to experts, Trumps visa reform could significantly reduce the number of skilled foreign workers and entrepreneurs who bring talent and jobs to the U.S.
Read more:
Will the Tech Industry Be Trumped By Immigration Reform? - JD Supra (press release)
Huffington Posts senior culture writer, Zeba Blay, blasted Vice President Mike Pence on Monday for perverting the idea of free speech itself during his recent commencement address at the University of Notre Dame. However, her own editors had to correct her faulty understanding of the First Amendment.
The original version of Blays piece apparently contained an argument that the Bill of Rights doesnt protect hate speech. The websites editors later added a correction at the end of post: An earlier version of this story indicated that the First Amendment never protects hate speech. It does.
Even with the correction from her editors, Blay still attempted to defend the speech codes, safe spaces, tone policing, [and] administration-sanctioned political correctness that the Vice President singled out for criticism during his commencement address.
The Huffington Post writer underlined that Pences pristine ideal of free speech' is too often used to dismiss legitimate criticism of language and policies that harm marginalized communities. She cited how figures like Milo Yiannopoulos, Ann Coulter, and Bill Maher have invoked the free speech argument when theyve been called out, criticized, or boycotted for their rhetoric.
Blay continued by dubiously claiming that none of them, however, have actually had their speech curtailed, and set up a straw man.
They have never been thrown in jail for things like inciting racist and sexist abuse against comedian Leslie Jones, or complaining about Jews in America, or suggesting Muslims are inherently violent. Indeed, it wasnt until Yiannopoulos started speaking positively about pedophilia that he actually faced any tangible repercussions.
Of course, individuals right to free speech can be restricted without being thrown in jail. Coulters planned speech at the publicly-funded University of California, Berkeley was cancelled because activists threatened to disrupt the event. The left-wing ACLU criticized the institution for this move, and outlined that the hecklers veto of Coulters Berkeley speech is a loss for the 1st Amendment. We must protect speech on campus, even when hateful.
The Huffington Post culture writer later emphasized that contrary to popular belief, free speech, in the context of the Constitution, actually does have limits. The First Amendment does not protect speech that incites violence, fraud, or child pornography, or certain forms of obscenity. It puts limits and restrictions on slander, and intellectual property.
Blay also asserted that safe spaces do not suppress anything they level the playing field in a landscape where so many of those who bemoan political correctness do so at the expense of already marginalized communities.
Near the end of her piece, the author lambasted appeals to free speech as ultimately just a rhetorical ploy to normalize ideas that oppress others. And complaining when those who are oppressed call out these ideas, as is their right, is another petty ploy.
Blays column isnt the first time that this sort of interpretation of the First Amendment has appeared in media circles. Back in May 2015, CNNs Chris Cuomo, who has a law degree, made an identical argument on Twitter: hate speech is excluded from protection. dont (sic) just say you love the constitutionread it.
Conservatives on the social media outlet sparred with Cuomo over his assertion. The CNN anchor even got some flak from the left, as Salon took him to task for his gaffe about the First Amendment.
[image via screengrab]
This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
Link:
Huffington Post Apparently Doesn't Understand How The First Amendment Works - Mediaite
Protesters against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington on May 16, 2017.(Photo: Shawn Thew, epa)
The contrast between despotism and liberty wason stark display last week in the nation's capital, when bodyguards of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan set upon protesters exercising free-speech rights in front of the Turkish ambassador's residence.
Video capturedimagesof the Turkish strongman emerging from a car to watch his beefy sentinels pummel and kick dissidents until the violence was quelled by baton-wieldingD.C. police. Eleven people were injured, including a police officer.
The May 16 melee, largely overshadowed by last week's bombshell newsinvolving President Trumpand the Russians, was behavior that might have passed for state-sanctioned oppression in Ankara. But this took place along Washington's Embassy Row,and demonstrators acted with the First Amendment's blessing to peaceably assemble.
Imagine the outcry if Israeli protesters gatheringoutside the King David Hotel in Jerusalem during President Trump's visit this week hadbeensuddenly attacked by members of the U.S. Secret Service.Nor was this the first time Erdogan's security team fought with demonstrators in downtown Washington. A clash broke out in front of the Brookings Institutionlast year.
Suchbrutality is sadly what Americans have come to expect from a leader who once held promise as a much needed reformer for a leadingdemocracy in the Islamic world, only to turn increasing autocratic. Last year, Erdogan barely won areferendum, marred by allegations of fraud,that substantially increased the powers of his presidency. After a coup attempt in July, he launched a widespread purge, jailing thousands of opponents, journalists and educators.
OPPOSING VIEW:
Turkish ambassador: Protesters posed a threat
When the United States and other Western nations called for restraint, Erdogan dismissed them. That's why it was so galling to see his imperiousness on display in the U.S. capital. One video of the event last week showsa henchman leaning inside Erdogan's car,as if seeking direction. The man thenturns and signals another, who plunges into the demonstrators with his fists swinging. Some protesters also threw punches.
Two Erdogan guards were detained by policebut later released;all have since left the country. An investigation continues, but diplomatic immunity would make it toughto bring Erdogan's guards to justice.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the Turkish conduct "outrageous," and his department issued a condemnation, summoning Turkey's ambassador to the U.S., Serdar Kl, for a dressing down. Days later, theTurkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara playing tit for tat similarly called in the U.S. ambassador to complain of how police treated those guards.
But the White House has remainedsilent on the violence that occurred shortly after Trump heaped praised on Erdogan during a meeting between the pair.Increasingly and disturbingly, the presidenthas been drawn to strongmen who trample onhuman rights, among them Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, PhilippinePresident Eduardo Duterte and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Doesn't Trump care about Erdogan's thugs beating up protesters just blocks from the White House? The president has, after all, sworn to protect and defend the Constitution and its First Amendment.
Instead, it's left to others like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,to exorcise the bitter taste this episode has left. "That's not America," McCain said.No, it is not.
USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by itsEditorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view a unique USA TODAY feature.
To read more editorials, go to theOpinion front pageor sign up for thedaily Opinion email newsletter.To respond to this editorial, submit a comment toletters@usatoday.com.
Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2rW6bHM
Read the original:
Turkey henchmen kick First Amendment - USA TODAY
It's impossible to view Montana Republican Greg Gianforte's assault on journalist Ben Jacobs in isolation. As many outlets are now pointing out, the number of threatening incidents this month alone is startling. The AP writes:
The editor of Alaskas largest newspaper said a state senator slapped one of his reporters when the reporter sought the lawmakers opinion on a recently published article.
A Washington-based reporter from CQ Roll Call said he was pinned against the wall by security guards and forced to leave the Federal Communications Commission headquarters after he tried to question an FCC commissioner after a news conference.
A West Virginia journalist was arrested after yelling questions about the opioid epidemic at U.S. Health Secretary Tom Price.
We've all watched Donald Trump stoke this fire among his base for monthscasting reporters as the enemy of the American people and news outlets as "evil" and hellbent on treating him unfairly.
On the campaign trail, Trump's ire had a trickle-down effect.
At one rally, a man was photographed in a shirt that read, Rope. Tree. Journalist. Some Assembly Required.
It should be little wonder now that $100,000 worth of donations poured into Gianforte's coffers as news of his attack and unrepentant statement following it spread across the country.
Read more here:
Trump's attack on First Amendment press freedoms puts reporters at the tip of the spear - Daily Kos