H-1B workers who get laid off have to leave the United States if they can't find a new job quickly. So far, nobody has done much except complain that corporations bring workers in from distant locales, then drop them when the economic climate changes.

But it will be interesting to see what happens if politicians continue seeing the image of immigrant families being kicked out of the United States because of the decisions of a huge, faceless corporation. If layoffs continue, it seems likely that at least one congressman in Washington will overlook the fact that those workers asked to come here, knowing that their status was temporary and depended on employment. Then that politico will ask Congress to cut the unemployed immigrants some slack.

If that happens-a big if, con-sidering the uncertain economic and political climate-it will set up an interesting debate. If the laid-off workers get any special legislative help, there should be some quid pro quo for the American-born workers who also got pink slips.

If cutbacks continue, both U.S. citizens and temporary immigrants will be fighting for the few job openings that remain. Congress can't do much for American citizens beyond making an effort to improve the economy and bolster economic safety net programs. But that's not true for H-1Bs from Europe, India and other regions. If indeed a politician asks the Immigration and Naturalization Service to give them added time to hunt for jobs, can other congressmen vote against sad families being kicked out of the country?

In the meantime, however, will anyone stand up for U.S. citizens who have been laid off? It's going to be difficult for someone to speak for them without being cast as racist or anti-immigrant.

But there's nothing wrong with simply enforcing an existing law. The H-1B visa cap was raised in response to the contention that there was a shortage of skilled American workers. If those H-1B workers are laid off, there isn't much need for them. Tough luck, but it's no tougher than for anyone else who's been laid off. It isn't fair for a noncitizen to move here under one set of rules, then ask politicians to change those rules.

Hopefully, the tech wreck has been cleared up and unemployment will again become minimal, so this scenario won't happen. But if it does, it would be nice to see someone step up and say that the laws of the land won't change to benefit foreigners at the cost of citizens.