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Student worker visas draw complaints

June 04, 2012 (1 min read)

"Almost 17,000 college students from around the world worked in seasonal jobs in New England last year, and in doing so, have become the latest flashpoint in the battle over foreign workers and American jobs.  With the economy still struggling and teen unemployment at record levels, supporters of tougher immigration policies say a State Department program that brings in these foreign students is displacing young Americans in need of work.  ... Despite high unemployment, business owners say they still aren’t able to attract enough Americans to work as dishwashers and housekeepers.  'It’s jobs the American students don’t want to take,' said Michael Briggs, resort manager of the Chatham Bars Inn, where up to 175 workers are Asian and Eastern European students. 'We put the ads out there, but we just don’t get any takers.'" - Boston Globe, June 3, 2012.

Gayle Yu, a student from the Philippines, set out a lobster roll in the Chatham Bars Inn. “It’s exciting working here,” she said.

Photo: Julia Cumes for the Boston Globe

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