Washington, D.C. – TechNet, the national, bipartisan network of innovation economy CEOs and senior executives, today applauded a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirming a district court’s decision to uphold the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) program in the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security case. The STEM OPT program grants work authorization to international students with qualifying STEM degrees. The following statement can be attributed to TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore:
“Retaining the global talent that American colleges and universities produce is critical to our economic success. Throughout our history, immigrant innovators and entrepreneurs have come to the U.S., graduated from our world-leading universities, started businesses, created jobs, fueled innovation, and grown our economy.
“Today’s court decision on the OPT and STEM OPT programs is critical to attracting and retaining the world’s top students. It will allow them to continue their career development in the U.S. and put their talents to work for the American economy instead of forcing them to take their skills abroad.
“We applaud today’s ruling by the D.C. Circuit. With three in four employers reporting difficulty hiring skilled workers, this decision will help American businesses attract and retain talent and strengthen our economy and global competitiveness.”
TechNet previously joined an amicus brief in the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security case supporting the STEM OPT program.