Governor Aristoteles Sandoval is urging tech firms in the United States that may be affected by new immigration restrictions on skilled foreign workers to consider Jalisco as an alternative.
Firms with operations in Jalisco are more than welcome to bring talented international employees here, Sandoval said in an open letter prior to his visit to California this week. “We want you,” declared a headline in English on a state government press bulletin released on Wednesday.
Trump has vowed to crack down on federal visa programs that let U.S. companies fill jobs with foreign workers in preference to Americans. At risk could be the HI-B program – considered vital to the tech community – that grants 85,000 visas each year, mainly to talented foreign engineers.
The governor highlighted “competitivity, infrastructure, human capital and global connectivity” as key factors that have transformed Jalisco into a major tech hub, employing around 25,000 skilled workers and registering $US21 billion in sales each year.
Sandoval kicked off his push to attract new investment and human capital in California, where met with counterpart Jerry Brown to discuss a range of issues that affect the two closely connected states.
According to some sources, Sandoval is due to meet with senior representatives from more than 30 tech firms over the next few days, including Google, Oracle and Hewlett Packard.
Sandoval stressed that Jalisco’s close relationship with Silicon Valley extends to more than just geographic location. “We share essential ideals, such as the development of talent, and the hospitality and generosity that are necessary so that a business can increase its social and economic value.”