Business Roundtable

Came for a Degree, Stayed for a Career

The U.S. economy’s shortage of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workers is more than a headline to Krish Prabhu — it is at the heart of his immigration story. With great educational opportunities but limited job prospects in his native India, he pushed onward and came to the United States on an F-1 student visa to pursue a doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, he accepted a job at Bell Laboratories — an incubator of great American invention.

In the 1980s, he helped develop the fiber optic system that supports the country’s cellular and Internet networks. Today, Mr. Prabhu is the key driver behind AT&T’s innovation strategy. He also volunteers to support STEM education at local high schools and universities. He has lived in the United States for nearly 40 years as a permanent resident. “Failure is not an option,” he says. “You don’t want to go back to your country of birth without leaving a legacy of success.”

Throughout U.S. history, immigrants have come to this country, made it their new home, contributed to its success and taught their children to do their part to make it even stronger. That historic success is at risk, however, because the current U.S. immigration system is broken. The U.S. Congress has been considering reforms to strengthen national security and boost economic growth for years but so far has failed to act.

This report outlines the economic benefits that accompany sensible immigration reform and tells the stories of several business leaders who came to America as immigrants.

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https://s3.amazonaws.com/brt.org/archive/0_immigration_report/2014.06.06%20BRT%20Immigration%20Report.Contributing%20to%20American%20Growth.pdf

Archived Content

Krish Prabhu

Came for a Degree, Stayed for a Career

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Tell Congress the Time to Act on Immigration is Now