Axios Login: Tech's new immigration fight

Plus: Apple's personal-data twist | Tuesday, June 07, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Zscaler   Axios Login By Ina Fried · Jun 07, 2022 Well, the Edmonton Oilers gave it their all, but lost in overtime, sending the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Finals .... Go ahead and read the rest of the newsletter. I'm going to need a minute. 🔌 Situational awareness: EU lawmakers agreed on new rules today mandating that all smartphones, tablets and other portable devices sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB-C charging port, regardless of the manufacturer. Today's newsletter is 1,173 words, a 4-minute read.     1 big thing: Tech's push to let visa-holders' kids stay in U.S. Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios   Tech giants, led by Google, are opening up a new front in D.C.'s immigration battles by urging the Biden administration to allow children of high-skilled immigrant workers to remain in the U.S. legally beyond their 21st birthdays, Axios' Margaret Harding McGill reports. Why it matters: Major companies say they need the administration to act to help them retain high-skilled parents who fear their children will be deported, amid a tight labor market and ongoing green card headaches. Catch up quick: There are about 200,000 children who face the prospect of "aging out" of the immigration system in this way. Many of the children came to the U.S. with parents on skilled worker visas, but lose dependent status when they turn 21, forcing them to scramble to find a temporary status or leave the country. Tech companies note the U.S. does not produce enough American engineers and other high-skilled workers to meet their needs, exacerbating an already tight labor market. What they're saying: "The prospect of having their children having to self-deport when they turn 21 deters potential employees from coming to the United States, and also makes it harder to retain employees who have been here for a while," Karan Bhatia, Google vice president of government affairs and policy, told Axios. What's happening: In a letter organized by Google and sent Monday, Amazon, IBM and other tech companies asked Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas "to establish more robust aging out policies" so children can continue as beneficiaries of their parents' green card applications. Bhatia told Axios the current aging out policy is too "rigid" and there is room for DHS to provide more flexibility, which could also aid U.S. competitiveness and boost the economy. Yes, but: During a Congressional hearing in April, Mayorkas told lawmakers the situation shows the need for legislation, but didn't outline any plans for the agency to address this issue. Between the lines: The tech companies also support bipartisan legislation, the America's Children Act, that would create a pathway to legal status for the children, but Congress has remained stalled on immigration issues. By the numbers: Temporary visa holders made up about 9% of the U.S. computer occupations workforce — such as electrical engineer or programmer — in 2019, up from about 4% in 2003, according to an analysis by the National Foundation for American Policy, a group that supports immigration reform. About 32% of that workforce was foreign-born in 2019, up from 25% in 2003. The steeper increase in temporary visa holders is likely due in part to the backlog in processing green cards, NFAP president Stuart Anderson told Axios. The big picture: The green card backlog has been a concern for the tech industry, which fears green cards they want for their employees will go to waste due to government processing delays. That backlog is also contributing to an increase in the number of children aging out of the dependent status while their parents await green cards, Anderson pointed out.     2. Apple's new twists on personal data control In Apple's otherwise routine WWDC keynote Monday, the company introduced some notable tools giving users more control over their data in ways that should spur other tech giants to offer similar features. Why it matters: Personal data in the wrong hands is dangerous. Companies can help reduce that danger by letting users decide who gets what information. Driving the news: Several features that Apple announced on Monday make it easier to share — and revoke — access to personal information. In conjunction with allowing users to store their driver's license or ID on their phone, Apple will allow people to use that to verify their age or identity with other apps. But, unlike when you have to show your driver's license, Apple is allowing more narrow uses, such as only sharing with an app that a user is at least a certain age, or is who they say they are. Advocates of decentralization have touted a similar goal using a different path, with identity credentials stored in the blockchain and selectively shared by individuals. Also, A new "safety check" feature allows people in time-sensitive situations — such as when they're leaving an abusive relationship — to quickly disable shared passwords, location and other information. Between the lines: Designing such features well is tricky and requires a lot of forethought. Even after touted the security of AirTag item finders, Apple was forced to make further tweaks after reports that people were using them to stalk individuals. My thought bubble: It's easy to create new technology that generates tons of useful new data. It's hard, but necessary, to envision how that data could be used to harm — and to design for both good and bad intent. Catch up quick: Here is a round-up of the new MacBook Air and all the software updates Apple announced Monday.     3. Apple offers alternative to "Buy now, pay later" Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios   Another interesting move by Apple was its foray into the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) arena with the upcoming launch of its Apple Pay Later service, as Axios Pro's Ryan Lawler reports. Why it matters: While other providers are busy striking deals with merchants to make their services available at checkout, Apple will offer its pay-in-four financing option that will be available via Apple Pay. Users will be able to make four equal payments spread out over six weeks — with the initial payment due at checkout. The loans will be offered with "zero interest and no fees of any kind," Apple said. The product will be built into Apple Wallet, where users will be able to view, track and repay Apple Pay Later loans. The intrigue: Apple is entering the space at a somewhat precarious moment for the category, as rising default rates and a tightening credit market is impacting incumbents' bottom lines. The big picture: There's still plenty of room for growth in the BNPL sector. According to data from research firm SensorTower, the top five BNPL apps in the U.S. together had 7.5 million monthly active users in May, which is up 44% year-over-year.     A message from Zscaler Zscaler sets the standard for zero trust     Industry leaders and analysts agree that Zscaler offers the world's largest, easiest to use and most mature zero trust platform. The takeaway: Reduce attack surface, cost and complexity with the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform. Explore the solutions and experience your world, secured.     4. Take note On Tap Apple's WWDC continues with sessions for developers online today through Friday. Trading Places Zoom said Monday that former Google Cloud executive Greg Tomb will join the company as president, reporting to CEO Eric S. Yuan. Verizon said Sowmyanarayan Sampath will take over next month as CEO of Verizon Business, replacing Tami Erwin, who will be an adviser to CEO Hans Vestburg until the end of 2022. Sampath had been chief revenue officer for Verizon Business. Also, Verizon said that Hank Kilgore has joined as a vice president on its legislative affairs team. He was previously a senior adviser to Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.). ICYMI There's a clear, growing and organic link between Russian propaganda and online far-right extremism globally, a new study finds (Axios). Taser maker Axon said it is halting plans to market a stun gun-equipped drone for use in schools after an uproar from both its own panel of experts and the broader public. (AP)     5. After you Login I just love the work this dad put in to create amazing photos with his daughter.     A message from Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange: How IT leaders secure transformation     Thousands of the world's most innovative companies have left legacy network security behind for Zscaler's Zero Trust Exchange™ platform. Here's why: Zero trust architecture accelerates secure digital transformation. Explore the solutions and experience your world, secured.   Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. 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