We had a great conversation about the importance of comprehensive immigration reform, from the perspective of welcoming immigrants, at the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday. I believe, and I think the majority of Americans do as well, that the perspective of welcoming rather than shunning immigrants, is both humane and practical. |
During the panel, we discussed at length the critical role that immigrants have and continue to play in our nation’s economy. For the latest research into the value immigrants bring, click this link to read the CPPP report, "Immigrants Drive the Texas Economy." Among the findings: In 2011, immigrants contributed $65 billion in economic output to the state in terms of wages, salary, and business earnings, while small businesses owned by immigrants contributed $4.4 billion in earnings to the state’s economy in 2011. Throughout our nation's history, we have been refreshed and strengthened by successive waves of immigrants. Each time, a strain of bigotry has revealed itself in response, and public debate ensued over whether the new arrivals somehow could not do what every other group had done, which is to enliven and enrich the nation. Every time, history proves the fearfully bigoted to be wrong. Eventually, when Congress finally passes immigration reform, and when the politics of fear about the nation's southern border are finally broken, they will again be proven wrong. |