I&#x27;m pretty critical about the H1-B&#x2F;L1 systems but my biggest problem with them are the restrictions they place on the visa-holders and the power they give the employer over the employee.<p>This affects me because I compete in a market where a substantial portion of my colleagues are modern-day indentured servants. This affects my working conditions, compensation and opportunities.<p>With respect to your point, I think it&#x27;s valid but I don&#x27;t think it&#x27;s as simplistic as more local engineers == less pay. For one thing, we&#x27;re already competing in a global environment -- software crosses borders easily. For another, the labor pool is never zero sum because more people consume more resources and demand labor. OTOH I don&#x27;t think unilaterally throwing open American borders would work very well and I think the position of this article is naive and idealistic.