Even though I've been replaced by H-1Bs on a few occasions, I still like them.
BUT actively seeking to avoid hiring skilled, experienced and competent Americans in preference to importing hundreds of thousands of replacement workers does not serve the best interests of America.
In a free market, I would get interviews, I would get job offers, they would be a lot lower than my last salary, but I would have the option of taking a pay cut and having a job. And you know what, I'd cheerfully work for half my last salary.
But I never even get the chance.
May be I was lucky, but I never had trouble finding good jobs since 1962 through 1998, my working years in US. I was never laid off. Was not unemployed even for 1 day. And I made enough to retire at 56. But I was very unique in the sense that I was highly skilled in design and manufacturing of heavy machinery and had extensive skills in computer programming as well. I was able to develop computer programs which shocked much bigger outfits than where I worked. Nobody told me what to do, it was all common sense, and thinking outside the box, and having the energy, drive and skills to do it. I will never forget the day when I had given 2 weeks notice at my job and the owner of company calls me in his office. Now this is a 800 employee outfit, doing a Billion dollars worth of business in today’s dollars. He tells me “Bob, I know you did not get the raise you deserve last year because of the wage freeze. But we want you to stay so I am writing you a personal check for $10,000 and please keep it confidential since we are unable to give out raises at this time. But you will get a raise in the next review!” So I am thinking why should I leave a place where my work is already recognized to this extent and then have to prove myself all over again in the new outfit for a 15% raise and go back to 2 weeks vacation over 4 weeks I am now getting based on my years here. I had 3 jobs in my career, and each one was offered to me, I did not even apply for them. Not bad for an immigrant engineering student from India who arrived in US at tender age of 20! But like I said, God gave me exceptional skills, and not everyone can be so lucky.