A new US Congressional report on defence has urged the Trump administration to aggressively expand visa for the foreign STEM talent, emphasising that the US must ensure people with critical knowledge and capacity stay in the country.

The Future of Defence Tasks Force report, 2020, which was released by the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, highlights that every time a foreign-born student returns to their home country from the US, they take with them critical knowledge and capacity.

“The US must increase its retention of foreign talent. When these foreign-born students return to their home countries, they take with them critical knowledge and capacity. And while some want to return to their home countries, many choose to stay in the US if allowed. The US must recognise this immigration shortfall by aggressively expanding visas for STEM talent,” said the report.

In 2017, foreign-born students accounted for 54 per cent of master’s degrees and 44 per cent of doctorate degrees awarded in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields in the US.

Notably, China sends the most STEM students to the US, with India a close second, the report said.

“As such it seems to enhance essential partnerships with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Five-Eyes intelligence partners, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand-as well as with Japan and South Korea,” the report said.

Seeking to bolster ties with allies in West Asia, notably Israel and Jordan, the report asks the administration to strengthen relations with India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, among others.