The US has also come very close to hiring foreigners on occasions.
An ab-initio operation, Gulfstream Aviation catered to foriegn students from zero to hero. They would be given right seat time on the Beech 1900 and Cessna 402 with Gulfstream International Airlines, then a Continental Airlines feeder, operating from South Florida. Of course they had to obtain work visas, which they did. Some even matriculated to Continental main line too.