Greedaintbad, I assume that there are still many applicants from India, Taiwan, or other countries with expertise in electronics. It implies to me that IDCC is still optimistic, and plan to increase their hiring for the private sector. I also assume that any government work would reuire US citizens.
Maybe that skill is needed because tech firms like IDCC employ the best talent they can find to fill their special needs, and sometimes the most qualified people need help with U.S. immigration. Years ago I worked with engineers from India and China who were always having to worry about immigration rules and regs in their own country as well as over here in the U.S. They came over here to attend an engineering school, liked the idea of working here, and then found themselves in a battle to do that.