Examining Obama's Immigration Overhaul - What I am reading 11/21/2014

Josh Blackman - Eight Observations About OLC Memo on Constitutionality of Executive Action on Immigration -

The TL:DR version.  The program appears legal, but the details will matter.  If it becomes a rubber stamp and all applicants are automatically approved then it becomes an exercise in executive overreach and therefore illegal.  At least that's how it reads to my non-lawyer eyes.

The Verge - Obama's immigration plan comes up short for Silicon Valley -

"If this is all there is, then the president has missed a real opportunity," Russ Harrison, of the IEEE, tells Reuters. "He could have taken steps to make it easier for skilled immigrants to become Americans through the green card system, protecting foreign workers and Americans in the process."

Reuters - Obama's immigration tweaks leave Big Tech wanting more -

The president's moves will make it easier for entrepreneurs to work in the United States and extend a program letting foreign students who graduate with advanced degrees from U.S. universities to work temporarily in the United States.

But tech industry insiders said the changes, while positive, were limited.

I think you all know how I feel about H1B visas.  There mat be some (limited) value to them but in general they are a scam for tech companies to avoid paying higher wages to US workers while not having to relocate to someplace like India, Bangladesh or the Congo.  Given that, I was not disappointed at all that Obama didn't expand the program.  As I said last night - If the Republican Congress really wants to hold Obama's feet to the fire on this they should let Zuckerberg and FWD.us do the heavy lifting.  Simply refuse to authorize any H1B visas for the next 3 years and no green cards for current H1B holders.  Hit the Silicon Valley types in the pocketbook.  They supported Obama overwhelmingly, let them face the consequences.

My standard disclaimer - Don't take this as an anti-immigrant statement.  I think legal immigration is a good thing.  In general I welcome anyone who wants to come to America, assimilate and work.  My problem is with illegal immigration, both because it is illegal and because of the negative economic consequences and with the gaming of the immigration system (use of H1B visas.)

Public Service Announcement - 

Lifehacker - PSN, 2K, and Windows Live Allegedly Hacked, Change Your Passwords Now -

 CNET and Geek.com report that hacker group DerpTrolling claim to have 7 million logins and 500,000 credit card data—including Comcast, Twitter, Facebook, and other sites.

Well I guess I know what I will be doing this weekend.  Again.  At some point we need to be able to sue these fuckers for not properly securing our data.