obviously where you live will depend on what kinds of IT jobs are available and how they pay. sometimes having certs means something, other times it does not.
migrant labor and the outsourcing of labor really has nothing to do with whether or not your certification means something to a potential employer. the value you can bring to a business is what a good manager looks for. your potential to learn new things and solve complicated problems is where it is at. you have to demonstrate that ability and a cert really does not do that when looking at the big picture. the world has gone global and there is a lot of talent out there willing to work for less than spoiled and entitled americans. protecting our workforce won't do anything but increase the cost of labor thus increasing the cost of goods and making us as a nation less competitive.
Easy Rhino, are you saying you would gladly take as many pay cuts as management could give you. All just to remain competitive if the country was flooded with people with your skill set even if you worked hard for a given company half your life? Knowing that now you must find a way to provide for your family? Then you would be Atlas, and you would most certainly shrug under the weight of it all. My job is protected as the private corporation I work for is owned by my family. I still care about my fellow man even though I hold a safe and secure position. There is something called a fair wage. Did you know if there was no minimum wage people would be paid even less. Also unions were started to protect our countries workers. Unions also need to be regulated though as they too end up overstepping their bounds like in the case of GM.
If they become citizens it isn't a drain on an economy. Requiring citizenship is the best policy. Canada does it to shield their market and it is working quite well. Sometimes other countries can get certain things right and we can learn from that rather than worshiping the free market. There used to be more nationalistic views in the USA like frowning upon such practices as outsourcing to save money by hiring people that didn't have citizenship. Aside from say the railroad industry where it was actually necessary. India is very nationalistic which is good IMO. If the tables were turned I do not believe they would allow it TBH. But that would be a good thing while showing a strength of character on their part. Also if the quality of labor was better it wouldn't be so bad. Most of their best techies must be staying in India. The problem roots from bringing the labor in until they get together and protest the low wages and then they send them back. It isn't the fault of the Indians. They are doing what they should by taking the opportunity when it is given to them. I have a problem with the screening process basically. It is the fault of the management. Bad management plagues so many companies.
Nike treats many third world countries badly that are far poorer than India. They set up shop until the people request better benefits like cleaner running water and better sewage infrastructure for their families to survive. So when they leave there is a mass starvation lowering the population to the same if not smaller than when Nike set up the sweatshops. That is the fault of immoral management that answers to no regulation.
Of course there is also bad regulation like how people use the EU to force out competition but that would take 20 pages to fully explain.
I am saying good regulation would make it easier for native citizens to find jobs in a line of work they have been trained for while keeping the money in the economy. Therefore it wouldn't be drained so easily. Potentially effecting the OPs job market. Yes the certs are needed but not just the certs by themselves.
Back on topic:
Getting a proper accredited degree clears you for higher pay regardless. Most management positions require a bachelors or masters anyway. I believe the OP said he was getting a four year degree already though.