High-tech companies in the U.S. need more highly skilled foreign workers to compete.

That fact is bolstered by the 150,000 applications filed April 1 for only 65,000 H-1B visas for such workers this year.

The low cap is “a catastrophe,” says Robert Breault, president of the Breault Research Organization of Tucson.

But while the number of H-1B visas should be increased, so should the accountability required of employers.

We support a higher cap because a sound, skilled work force helps the U.S. economy and our technology, while encouraging domestic companies not to move to foreign lands.

However, our nation also is strengthened when our own citizens are first in line for such jobs – and when education of U.S. citizens takes priority over educating foreigners.

While no one wants U.S. businesses to move away, neither should we spur an exodus of our current or potential highly skilled workers in favor of their foreign counterparts.

Yet at some levels, that’s what is happening.

About 95 percent of our engineering undergraduates are Americans, for example.

But half of advanced degrees in engineering are granted by U.S. universities to foreign nationals.

Some critics say the intensive hiring of foreigners has created a disincentive for U.S. students to pursue higher levels of education in fields such as computer technology.

In addition to the 65,000 H-1B visas a year, another 20,000 are given to those with U.S. graduate degrees.

And no limit is imposed on such visas for employment by foreigners at U.S. universities or at nonprofit and government research entities.

Critics also contend that too many employers fail to pay foreign workers the prevailing wage, as required.

Even economist Milton Friedman has called the H-1B visa program a form of subsidy.

So even though a sufficient number of H-1B visas must be made available to keep the United States competitive, Congress also needs to heed critics’ concerns about the law. (See Guest Opinion by John Miano, at right)

One of Americans’ top concerns about low-skilled, illegal immigrants is that they are driving down wages by taking far lower pay than U.S. workers would.

That same concern must be applied to highly skilled foreigners who work here legally and temporarily under H-1B visas.

The prevailing wage for engineers, computer programmers, scientists and other specialty professions must be maintained.

Otherwise, we risk losing the competitive edge created by our own citizenry, thus putting our science and technology solely in foreign hands.

That’s not a risk America can take.

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