The Portal Wiki

Eilberg Amendment (1976): Difference between revisions

Page Discussion

Eilberg Amendment (1976) (edit)

Revision as of 18:03, 22 November 2025

13,340 bytes added ,  22 November
→‎On X
(Created page with "thumb|Title page of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1976 Report (Eilberg Amendment) The Eilberg Amendment modified the U.S. immigration laws to prioritize family reunification and establish a preference system for allocating visas. While primarily aimed at restructuring the family-based immigration categories, it also indirectly influenced employment-based immigration by a...")
 
 
(22 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Immigration-and-Nationality-Act-Amendments-of-1976-Report-title-page.png|thumb|Title page of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1976 Report (Eilberg Amendment)]]
[[File:Immigration-and-Nationality-Act-Amendments-of-1976-Report-title-page.png|thumb|Title page of the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1976 Report (Eilberg Amendment)]]
The Eilberg Amendment modified the U.S. immigration laws to prioritize family reunification and establish a preference system for allocating visas. While primarily aimed at restructuring the family-based immigration categories, it also indirectly influenced employment-based immigration by adjusting the overall allocation of visas. The amendment set quotas and priority dates, affecting the availability of visas for high-skilled workers. Although not directly targeting science and technology sectors, its impact on the immigration landscape had repercussions for the recruitment and retention of skilled professionals in various fields, including science and technology.
 
The [https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0055/1669712.pdf HR14535 Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1976], otherwise known as the Eilberg Amendment to the [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-66/pdf/STATUTE-66-Pg163.pdf Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952], sponsored by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Eilberg Rep. Joshua Eilberg (D) Pennsylvania] and several others, while largely focused on family reunification and establishing a preference system for visa allocation, added several clauses that significantly impacted the employment-based immigration landscape. By setting quotas and priority dates, it influenced the availability of visas for high-skilled workers in the science and technology sectors.
 
The amendment's "special handling" provisions facilitated the hiring of foreign academics, potentially disadvantaging American researchers by allowing universities to prioritize foreign candidates. By allowing universities to prioritize marginally more qualified foreign candidates, the amendment contributed to wage suppression and reduced job opportunities for domestic talent. This policy also risked stifling innovation by incentivizing the hiring of less risky, potentially less innovative candidates, thereby impacting the quality and creativity of U.S. research output.
 
Academic discussion of these effects remains nearly nonexistent; a [http://users.nber.org/~sewp/references/archive/weinsteinIssuesofLegislation.pdf Sloan Workshop Report from 2003] by Eric Weinstein is, to our knowledge, the only publicly available exploration of the topic.


==Key Changes in the Amendment==
==Key Changes in the Amendment==


The important changes in the Eilberg Amendment relevant to high-skilled immigration are quoted below. Square brackets indicate material removed by the amendment; italics indicate material added.
The important changes the Eilberg Amendment made to the Immigration and Nationality Act (originally enacted in 1952) relevant to high-skilled immigration are quoted below. Square brackets indicate material removed by the amendment; italics indicate material added.


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
3) Visas shall next be made available, in a number not to exceed 10 per centum of the number specified in section '''['''201 (a) (ii)''']''' ''201 (a) (1) or (2)'', to qualified immigrants who are members of the professions, or who because of their exceptional ability in the sciences or the arts will substantially benefit prospectively the national economy, cultural interests, or welfare of the United States'''['''.''']''' ''and whose services in the professions, sciences, or arts are souqht by an employer in the United States''.
[[File:Eilberg-Amendment-1976-Section-203-(a)-(3).png|350px|thumb|Eilberg Amendment to Section 203 (a) (3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (1952)]]
 
3) Visas shall next be made available, in a number not to exceed 10 per centum of the number specified in section '''['''201 (a) (ii)''']''' ''201 (a) (1) or (2)'', to qualified immigrants who are members of the professions, or who because of their exceptional ability in the sciences or the arts will substantially benefit prospectively the national economy, cultural interests, or welfare of the United States'''['''.''']''' ''<span class="highlight">and whose services in the professions, sciences, or arts are souqht by an employer in the United States<span>''.
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


Line 15: Line 22:


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
SECTION 212 (a) (14) OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT
'''SECTION 212 (a) (14) OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT'''
 
[[File:Eilberg-Amendment-1976-1.png|thumb|Eilberg Amendment to Section 212 (a) (14) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (1952)]]
 
SEC. 212. (a) (14) Aliens seeking to enter the United States, for the purpose of performing skilled or unskilled labor, unless the Secretary of Labor has determined and certified to the Secretary of State and the Attorney General that (A) there are not sufficient workers [in the United States] who are able, willing, qualified ''<span class="highlight">(or equally qualified in the case of aliens who are members of the teaching profession or who have exceptional ability in the sciences or the arts)<span>'', and available at the time of application for a visa and admission to the United States and at the place '''['''to which''']''' ''where'' the alien is [destined] to perform such skilled or unskilled labor, and (B) the employment of such aliens will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of the workers in the United States similarly employed. The exclusion of aliens under this paragraph shall not '''['''to special immigrants defined in section 101(a) (27) (A) (other than the parents, spouses, or children of United States citizens or of aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence),''']''' to preference immigrant aliens described in section 203 (a) (3) and (6), and to nonpreference immigrant aliens described in section 203 (a) (8)
</blockquote>
 
To justify the changes in the ammendment, the sponsoring committee expressed the following "concerns":
 
<blockquote>


SEC. 212. (a) (14) Aliens seeking to enter the United States, for the purpose of performing skilled or unskilled labor, unless the Secretary of Labor has determined and certified to the Secretary of State and the Attorney General that (A) there are not sufficient workers [in the United States] who are able, willing, qualified ''(or equally qualified in the case of aliens who are members of the teaching profession or who have exceptional ability in the sciences or the arts)'', and available at the time of application for a visa and admission to the United States and at the place '''['''to which''']''' ''where'' the alien is [destined] to perform such skilled or unskilled labor, and (B) the employment of such aliens will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of the workers in the United States similarly employed. The exclusion of aliens under this paragraph shall not '''['''to special immigrants defined in section 101(a) (27) (A) (other than the parents, spouses, or children of United States citizens or of aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence),''']''' to preference immigrant aliens described in section 203 (a) (3) and (6), and to nonpreference immigrant aliens described in section 203 (a) (8)
[[File:Labor-certification-provision-equally-qualified-American-workers.png|thumb|Sponsoring committee's "concerns" about Labor Certification Provision; amendment requiring Secretary of Labor to determine that "equally qualified" American workers are available in order to deny a labor certification.]]
 
This legislation retains the labor certification provision with one minor modification and extends it equally to third and sixth and nonpreference applicants from both hemispheres.
 
The Committee continues to be disturbed by the administration of the labor certification requirement by the Department of Labor and plans to review this entire program during the next Congress. The Committee, however, is particularly troubled by the rigid interpretation of this section of law as it pertains to research scholars and exceptional members of the teaching profession. <span class="highlight">More specifically, the Committee believes that the Department of Labor has impeded the efforts of colleges and universities to acquire outstanding educators or faculty members who possess specialized knowledge or a unique combination of administrative and teaching skills. As a result, this legislation includes an amendment to section 212(a) (14) which requires the Secretary of Labor to determine that "equally qualified" American workers are available in order to deny a labor certification for members of the teaching profession or for those who have exceptional ability in the arts and sciences.<span>
 
The Committee expects the Department of Labor to work closely with persons of specialized competence from industry, government and institutions of higher education in developing appropriate standards and criteria to carry out the purpose of this amendment. In addition, consideration should be given to the establishment of an "ad advisory group, which would be consulted by the Secretary of Labor in difficult cases.
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


==Eric's Sloan Workshop Report==
==The "Special Handling" Process==
 
The "special handling" process under the 1976 Eilberg Amendment referred to an expedited and preferential procedure for obtaining labor certification for certain categories of foreign professionals, particularly college and university teachers. The ostensible purpose was to address the specific needs of U.S. educational institutions and to facilitate the hiring of qualified foreign faculty members in cases where no qualified U.S. worker was available.
 
* '''Criteria for Eligibility:''' To qualify for special handling, the position had to be in the teaching field at a college or university. The employer was required to demonstrate that the foreign national was more qualified for the position than any U.S. worker who applied. This was often done through a comparative evaluation of the qualifications of all applicants, focusing on education, experience, and other relevant factors.
 
* '''Recruitment Requirements:''' The employer was still required to conduct a recruitment effort, but the standards were somewhat relaxed compared to the general labor certification process. The recruitment needed to demonstrate that the employer had advertised the position and considered all available U.S. applicants before offering it to the foreign national.
 
* '''Processing and Approval:''' The "special handling" provisions allowed for a more streamlined review process, acknowledging the unique circumstances of academic hiring. The Department of Labor recognized that academic appointments often required specialized expertise and a higher level of qualifications, which might not be readily available among U.S. workers.
 
* '''Impact on the Labor Market:''' While intended to facilitate the hiring of foreign talent, the process also faced criticism for potentially disadvantaging American researchers by allowing institutions to prioritize even marginally more qualified foreign candidates. This raised concerns about wage suppression, limited job opportunities for domestic talent, and a potential reduction in innovation if riskier, potentially more innovative researchers were overlooked in favor of safer candidates.
 
==Eric's 2003 Sloan Workshop Report==
 
The report "[http://users.nber.org/~sewp/references/archive/weinsteinIssuesofLegislation.pdf Issues of Legislation and Merit in Scientific Labor Markets]," authored by Eric Weinstein, critically examines the Eilberg Amendment's impact on academic labor markets. It argues that the amendment allowed universities to bypass standard labor certification requirements, treating foreign academic hires with exceptional leniency compared to other sectors. The report highlights the unintended consequences of these policies, such as disadvantaging qualified American researchers by allowing universities to prefer marginally more qualified foreign candidates. This critique differs from the typical justification for these policies, which emphasizes the need for exceptional talent in academia.
 
===The Sheepherder Provision===


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Line 41: Line 79:
"...you have circumvented the primary rationale for denial of labor certification: that an unlimited supply of American manpower exists whose employment prospects are being usurped by alien labor."
"...you have circumvented the primary rationale for denial of labor certification: that an unlimited supply of American manpower exists whose employment prospects are being usurped by alien labor."
-John Osvald, AAU President, Letter to Joshua Eilberg, Nov. 1975.
-John Osvald, AAU President, Letter to Joshua Eilberg, Nov. 1975.
</blockquote>
===The Shortage Provision===


<blockquote>
'''The Shortage Provision: "Schedule A"'''
'''The Shortage Provision: "Schedule A"'''


Line 52: Line 94:


==On X==
==On X==
Eric has mentioned the Eilberg Amendment numerous times on X:


{{#widget:Tweet|id=1258065884238589952}}
{{#widget:Tweet|id=1258065884238589952}}
{{#widget:Tweet|id=1449761477594804228}}
{{#widget:Tweet|id=1449761477594804228}}
{{#widget:Tweet|id=1453996128412717057}}
{{#widget:Tweet|id=1453996128412717057}}
{{#widget:Tweet|id=1617623568145350656}}
 
 
{{Tweet
|image=Eric profile picture.jpg
|nameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1617626399615119361
|name=Eric Weinstein
|usernameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein
|username=EricRWeinstein
|content=<nowiki>*</nowiki>bred. 🙏
|thread=
{{Tweet
|image=Eric profile picture.jpg
|nameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1617623568145350656
|name=Eric Weinstein
|usernameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein
|username=EricRWeinstein
|content=We’ve been trying to destroy US scientists’ freedom &amp; their research universities for ~60 years.
 
[[Peer Review|Peer Review 1965]]</br>
[[Mansfield Amendment (1969)|Mansfield Amendment 1969]]</br>
[[Eilberg Amendment (1976)|Eilberg Amendment 1976]]</br>
[[Bayh-Dole Act (1980)|Bayh-Dole Act 1980]]</br>
[[IMMACT90|IMMACT90 1990]]</br>
SSC Cancelation 1993</br>
ADEA Faculty Uncapping 1993</br>
Dear Colleague Letter 2011</br>
DEI 2017
|quote=
{{Tweet
|image=MarioNawfal-profile.jpg
|nameurl=https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1617596488502370304
|name=Mario Nawfal
|usernameurl=https://x.com/MarioNawfal
|username=MarioNawfal
|content=When a successful polio vaccine candidate was introduced in 1953, it made its developer a minor celebrity.
 
In 1960, Time magazine’s “Man of the Year” was awarded to “US Scientists.”
 
What used to be people’s celebrity in the 1950s is seen by many as a villain today.
 
Why?
|timestamp=6:53 PM · Jan 23, 2023
}}
|timestamp=8:41 PM · Jan 23, 2023
}}
{{Tweet
|image=Eric profile picture.jpg
|nameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1617625356416192512
|name=Eric Weinstein
|usernameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein
|username=EricRWeinstein
|content=You are looking at domesticated Scientists that were bread over almost 60 years from Wild Type scientists.
 
It’s not that there is no connection. But the difference between a wolf &amp; a poodle can be significant. One is fiercely independent. One needs obedience to be fed regularly.
|timestamp=8:48 PM · Jan 23, 2023
}}
{{Tweet
|image=Eric profile picture.jpg
|nameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1617625358454644738
|name=Eric Weinstein
|usernameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein
|username=EricRWeinstein
|content=And inside every domesticated animal lies an unkillable dream of being wild and free again. That’s why occasionally my dog brings me a squirrel or still pees on territory while on a leash.
 
Your real scientists want to hunt again. They need to be reintroduced into the wild. Now.
|timestamp=8:48 PM · Jan 23, 2023
}}
{{Tweet
|image=Eric profile picture.jpg
|nameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein/status/1617626351154114560
|name=Eric Weinstein
|usernameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein
|username=EricRWeinstein
|content=Here is the simple point:
 
You can have scientists you trust.
 
You can have scientists you control.
 
And you can pick only one of the above options.
 
You’re getting angry at wolves you bred into obedience to non-scientific masters who have no idea what they are doing. That’s why.
|timestamp=8:52 PM · Jan 23, 2023
}}
|timestamp=8:52 PM · Jan 23, 2023
}}
 
==On Youtube==
 
Eric mentioned the Eilberg Amendment in a conversation about academia with Brian Keating:
 
<blockquote>
We have to stop this.... This is not a thousand-year-old tradition; this has to do with Vannevar Bush, the Endless Frontier, the expansion of the post-secondary education system. You know, I was hanging out with the provost at the UCSD and he didn't even understand the effect of the Eilberg Amendment of 1976, Bayh-Dole in 1980, the fraudulent NSF and NAS projections of a looming shortage that opened the floodgates of foreign labor inside universities; its misclassification as student apprenticeship, there's an entire recent horrible history of turning the modern Professor into a serf, not just the graduates student into a serf, but attempt to destroy academic freedom. If you cannot tell people to screw off and know that you are still funded the next day, and you can still come into your office, the field is lost.
 
- '''Eric Weinstein''' on [https://youtu.be/YjsPb3kBGnk?t=2531 Brian Keating's podcast] on May 19, 2020
</blockquote>
 
{{#widget:YouTube|id=YjsPb3kBGnk|start=2531}}
 
==Additional Criticism==
 
Archived communication between the then acting Secretary of Labor and James T Lynn, then Director of the Office of Management and Budget, puts forward concerns expressed by the Secretary of Labor at the time that the amendment was being considered:
 
[[File:Secretary-of-Labor-Concern-1.png|100px|thumb|Acting Secretary of Labor's Letter, p. 1]]
[[File:Secretary-of-Labor-Concern-2.png|100px|thumb|Acting Secretary of Labor's Letter, p. 2]]
 
<blockquote>
Of concern to us is the manner in which the bill would change the labor certification provision, section 212(a) (14) of the Immigration Act.
 
That section now excludes entry of skilled and unskilled workers, unless the Secretary of Labor certifies that "there are not sufficient workers in the United States who are able, willing, qualified ..." The change would add, after the word "qualified": "or equally qualified in the case of aliens who are members of the teaching profession or who have exceptional ability in the sciences or the arts."
 
This provision may have the effect of requiring the Secretary of Labor to certify the admission of alien teachers in many instances where qualified U.S. teachers are available but "more qualified" alien teachers are involved.
 
<span class="highlight">Except in the case of certain persons of exceptional merit and ability, the Department of Labor does not believe that aliens should be admitted if "qualified" U.S. workers are available.<span>
 
We note that under the bill the Secretary would not certify aliens for employment if there were sufficient workers of that type available for work at the place where the alien will work. In our view, the bill does not substantially differ from the Department's present interpretation of the permissible area of consideration for the determination of the availability of US workers. However, <span class="highlight">we are concerned that this may be construed as permitting employers to ignore U.S. workers who are willing and available to relocate.<span>
</blockquote>
 
This concern foreshadows the criticism Eric puts forward in his analysis, but does not seem to have been addressed before the amendment was passed.
 
Highlights in the quoted paragraph above are ours.


==References==
==References==
Line 63: Line 227:
* [http://users.nber.org/~sewp/references/archive/weinsteinIssuesofLegislation.pdf Issues of Legislation and Merit in Scientific Labor Markets]
* [http://users.nber.org/~sewp/references/archive/weinsteinIssuesofLegislation.pdf Issues of Legislation and Merit in Scientific Labor Markets]


==See Also==
==Related Pages==


* [[The Evolution of U.S. Science and Defense Research Policies]]
* [[The Evolution of U.S. Science and Defense Research Policies]]
* [[Bayh-Dole Act]]
* [[Bayh-Dole Act (1980)]]
* [[Mansfield Amendment 1969]]
* [[Embedded Growth Obligations]]
* [[How and Why Government, Universities, and Industry Create Domestic Labor Shortages of Scientists and High-Tech Workers (Content)]]
* [[IMMACT90]]
* [[IMMACT90]]
* [[Science, The Endless Frontier]]
* [[Immigration]]
* [[Labor Shortages]]
* [[Macropaternalism]]
* [[Mansfield Amendment (1969)]]
* [[Peer Review]]
* [[Science, The Endless Frontier (1945)]]
* [[Science Since Babylon]]
* [[Science Since Babylon]]
* [[The Idealism of Every Era Is the Cover Story of Its Greatest Theft]]
* [[Universal Institutional Betrayal]]


[[Category:History]]
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Immigration]]
Retrieved from "https://theportal.wiki/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/20177...24073"