The Optional Practical Training (OPT) for foreign students who have graduated from American universities allows all foreign graduates to receive a 12-month work permit, but STEM graduates are eligible for an additional 24-month work permit.  Businesses are using this program to circumvent H-1B visa caps and American and legal immigrant graduates are losing out:

OPT has grown more than 400% in recent years and is bigger than the H-1B program.

275,000 foreign workers were employed in 2017 under the OPT program.

From 2007 to 2017, employers hired 2.5 million OPT and CPT workers.

Employers don't have to pay payroll taxes on OPT employees, making them 15.3% cheaper to hire.  The FICA fund loses out on $2.5 billion each year due to this.

OPT visas are not merit-based and have no restrictions or limitations.

Fewer than 50% of U.S. STEM graduates are finding jobs in STEM fields, which is a direct result of the OPT program.

The OPT program is harming American STEM grads by giving companies a financial incentive to hire temporary foreign workers, even though the government is actively encouraging American students to study for STEM degrees.

To make matters worse, a federal court has decided that the government does have the power to exempt OPT workers from Social Security and Medicare taxes, making it even cheaper for employers to hire them.

Please send a message to your three Members of Congress and urge them to end the OPT program.