[quote=@Andreyich]
<Snipped quote>
That's still stupid. You're creating brain-drain and making that place have worse living conditions, and you are creating more divide in the world in quality of life, with subsequently more pollution and such. So you're still wrong. 
[/quote]

what do I care what happens to the country they came from? I'M AN AMERICAN! If you legally immigrated, YOU'RE AN AMERICAN TOO! So the two of us are the only people I care about in this scenario. Immigration policy as altruism -- you're right -- that's totally backwards, and it probably does more harm than good. But I don't expect my government to be altruistic. I want America to do what is best for America. If that means brain-draining Cambodia, you know, I'll bring the chopsticks. 

Insofar as immigration benefits my country, I am totally in favor of immigration. This will necessarily result in a better life for those who immigrate, which is fantastic and all, but that's not my point at all. My purpose is national self-interest.