Obama's immigration changes fall short, say US tech, medical sectors

Washington

NESTLED in President Barack Obama's plan to overhaul aspects of the US immigration system are tweaks to rules for high-skilled workers long frustrated with hurdles to getting work or residency approval.

The tech and medical sectors especially have for years complained of difficulties in recruiting talent from overseas, with many potential candidates subject to protracted bureaucratic delays.

"I'll make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed," the President said during an immigration speech on Thursday.

His executive actions, which were immediately blasted by Republicans, garnered most attention for the pla…