"But that openness stands in sharp contrast to arcane U.S. immigration policies that discourage young scholars from settling in the U.S." I am an immigrant. Whether I am a "scientist" is debatable but the above statement is disingenuous. I think, sometimes people mix-up the highly talented pool of immigrant with IT works... I am yet to see Ph.Ds refused visas and what not (not to say one need a Ph.D. to do something useful).