SAN JOSE -- The heads of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Semiconductor Industry Association sent a detailed letter to Congress yesterday advocating for immigration reform.

The letter carefully parsed the traditional differences between the respective trade group's stances on workers from abroad, choosing instead to concentrate on commonalities, including the "need for immediate efforts to retain highly skilled graduates with advanced degrees from America's top science and engineering programs."

"IEEE-USA and SIA see the permanent retention of highly educated immigrants as part of a broader effort to
increase America's competitiveness and create new jobs here at home. Currently 50% of master's and 70% of Ph.D. graduates in electrical and electronic
engineering from US universities are foreign nationals. These highly talented individuals should be able to get permanent resident status (green cards) in an expedited manner, rather than having to wait five to 10 years as many do under the current system."

The trade groups said delays open the door to offshore competitors to recruit American-trained talent.

In the letter, SIA and IEEE-USA lobbied for "immediate" action by Congress to grants such individuals permanent resident status.