Immigrants have played a pivotal role in shaping the U.S.’s economy and major global companies, according to a Forbes report released ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The report highlighted prominent immigrant entrepreneurs and executives, including Google cofounder Sergey Brin and AMD CEO Lisa Su, as key figures who helped shape American business and technology.
Research cited by the report suggests that U.S. economic growth between 1990 and 2016 would have been significantly lower without immigration, according to Citi Research. However, recent changes in U.S. immigration policy are making it harder for skilled workers to follow similar paths, with industry leaders warning of potential limitations on future innovation and talent inflows.
Tech executives, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, have previously stated that stricter H-1B visa rules could prevent their families from moving to the United States. The report comes as debate continues in the U.S. over immigration, economic growth, and labor shortages in key industries.