Big Story: Startups call for pro-innovation immigration policy
As the first 100 days of the Trump administration—which has been marked by sweeping, harsh immigration enforcement actions and policy changes—come to a close, startups are warning policymakers that U.S. innovation and competitiveness depends on an immigration system that welcomes foreign-born students, founders, and talent to the country.
In a letter this week, members of the startup ecosystem are calling on policymakers to instead pursue immigration policies that encourage foreign born talent and entrepreneurs to come to and stay in the U.S. with the goal of keeping the country innovative and globally competitive. “As we continue to strengthen our leadership in critical areas from artificial intelligence to technology infrastructure, we implore you to strengthen pathways to retain critically needed, high-skilled foreign-born talent so U.S. startups and innovators can compete,” the group of startups, investors, and support organizations wrote.
Other countries not only invest heavily in their own domestic technology sectors and talent pipelines, and some countries also use their more easily navigated immigration systems to attract and retain global talent. At the same time, the U.S. immigration system can make it difficult for foreign-born high-skilled students to stay in the country after graduation. And the increase in hostility towards individuals with student visas will discourage current and future international students from coming to or staying in the U.S., further limiting the future talent pool. For the country to remain a leader in emerging technologies, U.S. startups must be able to “build and grow their teams with the best and brightest talent—currently a limited pool sought after by companies of all sizes, both in the U.S. and abroad,” the startup ecosystem letter said.
Welcoming and working to retain foreign-born students, entrepreneurs, and high-skilled talent is necessary and would be a stark departure from the current chaotic and cruel approach. From targeting students who engage in political speech, to terminating student records in immigration databases, to a proposal increasing fees, including for asylum seekers, the attacks on U.S. immigrants will drive away current and future talent. Policymakers should instead be advancing policies that encourage innovators and entrepreneurs to come to the U.S. and build companies and contribute to the startup ecosystem and overall economy.
Policy Roundup:
House passes deepfake bill with bipartisan support. The House passed the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act on Tuesday, advancing a measure that would require platforms to remove non-consensual AI-generated content. As the bill heads to President Trump’s desk for signature, it’s critical that policymakers consider how new requirements could undermine free expression and dramatically increase compliance and legal costs.
Senate resolution to halt Trump tariffs fails. The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan resolution to end the emergency President Trump used to impose sweeping tariffs. The vote came as economic data showed the U.S. economy shrank for the first time in three years, reinforcing the negative impact of tariffs. A clear, cooperative trade agenda that lowers tariff and digital trade barriers, offers a better path forwards.
Broadband agency nomination clears committee. The Senate Commerce Committee advanced Olivia Trusty’s nomination to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday, positioning Republicans to gain majority control under Chairman Brendan Carr. This shift is likely to influence how the FCC approaches broadband affordability programs, including the Universal Service Fund—an initiative Republican policymakers have frequently criticized. Scaling back these efforts would undermine progress in closing the digital divide and limit access to high-speed Internet for startups and future innovators.
Trump administration seeks input on AI standards. The National Science Foundation is requesting public input on the federal government’s AI research and development strategy. Government plays a key role in supporting research and development of emerging technologies that are one day commercialized and built upon by startups.
On the Horizon:
TUE. 5/06: The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee will convene a hearing to discuss the rules and regulations affecting emerging fund managers, as well as the barriers small companies face under federal securities laws at 10:00 AM ET.
TUE 5/06: The House Agriculture Committee will convene a hearing to discuss American innovation and the evolving role of digital assets at 10:00 AM ET.
WED 5/07: The House Judiciary subcommittee on courts, intellectual property, artificial intelligence, and the Internet will convene a hearing to discuss protecting trade secrets in the age of global AI competition at 10:00 AM ET.
THU 5/08: The Senate Commerce Committee will convene a hearing to discuss strengthening U.S. leadership in AI innovation at 10:00 AM ET.
Startup Roundup:
#StartupsEverywhere: Fairfax, Virginia. When his original grading and evaluation platform wasn’t getting any bites in the world of higher education, Ali Aldubaisi and his co-founder, Ali "AJ" Aldjaei, ended up pivoting to the training of law enforcement. Today, Kaiden AI is used in police academies across the country to train recruits on how to de-escalate high-pressure scenarios. We sat down with Ali to discuss his software, selling to government organizations, and founding a startup in northern Virginia.
