Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar's legislation to increase H-1B visas and green card quotas is welcome and will help the U.S. economy. The jobs that are offered will only be located where there are not sufficient qualified local citizens.

So why the questions about stealing jobs? International students pay higher tuition and are generally not eligible for financial aid. Foreign students have restrictions on how many hours they may work (if at all), and may not work for less than the current wage rate. So it is hard to understand how they can work "cheaper."

Temporary workers are also taxpayers, but do not have the benefits of citizens or permanent residents. Even getting a loan or buying a home is much harder. America is a democracy, and a true meritocracy, which is why it is such a great nation. Quickening the path to permanent residency and citizenship for legal immigrants is indeed a step in the right direction.

RAVI GUPTA, Bemidji, Minn.