There is no record of any major U.S. carrier sponsering foreign pilots without an FAA ticket, without a Green card, without a Social Security card.
There is never a pilot shortage, only a sometimes shortage of very experienced pilots.
Because AA had been caught and fined for cheating on crew complements on 8+ hour sectors (such as HNL-DFW) the company is forced to hire more crews despite the recession.
Additionally, because of vigorous FAA enforcement of crew duty limitations, and pending rulemaking on curtailing duty times,
furloughed pilots will be recalled and more pilots will have to be hired soon.
