How-Not-to-Hire-U.S.-Workers Law Firm Fires Back

theodp writes "Congress is now calling for a Dept. of Labor investigation into a Pittsburgh law firm after a video showing its attorneys advising employers how to game the immigration system was posted on YouTube. Cohen & Grigsby, the firm in question, issued a statement insisting their statements were commandeered and misused, but would not allow CBS to view the original video in its entirety. Cohen & Grigsby has also been advising employers since 2002 that they have nothing to fear if they keep employees in the dark about the existence of DOL-required H-1B Public Access Files."

Re:their website

[Amiga Trombone]

has the tag line 'progressive law' all over the place. I would suggest replacing the word 'progressive' with 'breakin' the'

Call them up and express your displeasure...

Main office:
Pittsburgh, PA
11 Stanwix Street
15th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1319
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

Re:their website

[PatPending]

The email address of Allan TeDesco, Chief Operating Officier is: [e-mail]

Re:Shameful

[squarefish]

the visa holders seem to mostly be using it as a stepping stone to citizenship
 
I don't think your sentiment is correct. I only know two people working here in the US on H-1B visas: one is from India and he's here for the short term to make money and send it home. He intends on permanently moving back to India, getting married, and settling down to raise a family in the next few years.

The other has been working in the US for over 15 years, has been married to a US citizen for 6 and has a 5 yo son with dual citizenship, and has no intention of becoming a US citizen because it's just too much of a pain in the ass and not worth it to him.
 
They are both honest people earing a living here for different reasons and purposes, but neither of them are doing so with the intent of citizenship or anything that comes close to what this law firm is trying to promote. I think the folks that get scooped in via a firm like this are the ones getting really screwed. The firm is doing this for the benefit of their clients, big companies, and they couldn't give a fuck about the H-1B worker at all.
 
Hopefully the government will actually do something about this. I hope this firm and their practices will help magnify the hypocrasy and stupidity of the current immigration debate.

to each other, yes

[r00t]

There are economic requirements for entering the EU.

Actually, right now the UK is having a major problem with people sneaking in.

U. Pitt Pays Firm to Pen H-1B Letters of Support

[theodp]

Looks like conventional plagiarism rules don't always apply at Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business, where the law firm of Cohen & Grigsby is paid to 'draft appropriate letters of support' for H-1B seeking MBA grads [pitt.edu] as part of the Pitt-funded Katzport Program [pitt.edu]. The school boasts that the program - which can cost Pitt upwards of $4,000 per student - 'levels the playing field' to 'facilitate the employment of international MBA graduates.'

Re:Huh? What's wrong with this?

[CharlesEGrant]

I can't believe anyone would seriously suggest that we should abandon our investment in an existing employee just to find a US-citizen.

If you are a US company, US law requires you to make a good faith effort to find a US citizen qualified for the job. So yes, I would suggest that you had better be prepared to do just that. You may not like the law, it may even be a foolish law, but then a lot of Slashdot readers don't like the current state of IP law either. Are you prepared to give them a pass on that?

Re:their website

[squarefish]

In the video they are talking about how to comply with the law, not break it.

No, they are teaching companies what to do to make it look like they are complying with the laws when they have no intention of following the spirit of the law itself.

Re:Shameful

[jmauro]

You're thinking of the H2 visa on the switching jobs thing. The H1 and H1B immigrants can switch jobs.

Re:Shameful

[p0tat03]

While it's commendable that you have concern for the well-being of America and its work force, I think you've got it wrong.

I am Canadian, and while I'm currently working in Canada, I will jump on an H-1B opportunity from a nice job instantly.

The removal of H-1B's will partially deal with the abusive companies who use said visas as ways to hire cheap foreign labour. But honestly, there are enough *perfectly legal* new immigrants in your country for companies to do that anyway. No, unfortunately removing H-1B's will also permanently erase the gateway for talent to enter the US. America historically, especially in the 20th century, is built upon the talent pool of other countries. By offering a free society, a great environment, and an enviable lifestyle, you have attracted the most talented workers and researchers from all over the world. This is the key to America's past success, and it remains the key to the future.

This is also why I'm concerned about the recent turn (in my impression anyway) towards xenophobia by most American workers. Yes, there are abusive companies out there who use H-1B's as ways to get cheap labour across the border, but really, they could just as well open an office in Bangalore and save the legal paperwork. I believe the importance of importing true talent into the country far outweighs the potential for abuse. The rampant xenophobia, Muslim-hate, and rise of the influence of the religious right is doing a lot to drive talented individuals from moving to the USA (and I'd know... I'm in a university and I speak to academics all the time, from many different ethnicities and backgrounds).