During his televised State of the Union address last week (said to have been watched by 37.8 million) he said current regulations made it difficult for US-educated foreigners to find work at American companies and directly threatened the economy.

“As soon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else. That doesn’t make sense,” he said.

NAFSA, America’s largest association dedicated to international education, said the president had taken an essential step toward restarting the national conversation on immigration reform.

“We applaud the president for reminding congress and the American people that comprehensive immigration reform is something that must get done – we have to do the hard work of reforming our immigration laws,” said Ursula Oaks, senior director, media relations and strategic communications.

“We have to do the hard work of reforming our immigration laws”

“He must continue that conversation with the American people about why comprehensive immigration reform is important.”

In 2009, between half and two-thirds of all PhDs awarded by US universities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) went to international students, according to research. However, critics say that entry to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme – which lets international students work for a year after completing their degrees – is restrictive.

With a shortage of STEM graduates now predicted in the USA, the government has extended the OPT programme by 17 months for certain students and launched Study in the States – an initiative to streamline the student visa process. Democrat senator of Colorado, Michael Bennet, also introduced a state bill this month, calling for a green card residence category for highly skilled overseas graduates.

During his address the president said progress would be slow in all areas of immigration reform – a traditionally divisive issue – given the political deadlock in Washington and “election year politics”.

“Polling continually shows that Americans welcome immigrants”

NAFSA remains positive change can still be achieved if pressure on congress is kept up. “Polling continually shows that Americans welcome immigrants. The United States and international education is enriched by foreign students,” said Oaks.

Research has spotlighted the contribution of foreign high-skilled workers’ to the US economy. According to the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), immigrants have started nearly half of America’s 50 top venture-funded companies, adding an average of approximately 150 jobs per company.