A New Approach To Immigration
The Big Picture
For years, Washington has failed to fix our broken immigration system. It’s harming our economy. It’s poisoning our politics. The problem demands a solution.
It’s the key immigration question that confronts every nation: Who gets to come and why? In recent decades, the U.S. has embraced a very different answer than other advanced economies.
Justification For Admitting New Immigrants
The Problem
The U.S. needs an approach to immigration that both resolves the status of the people who are already here and establishes a more thoughtful process for determining who should have an opportunity to immigrate in the years and decades to come.
Washington hasn’t found the right answer because it hasn’t asked the right questions. What is the best solution for American citizens? What immigration policies would best improve job opportunities, strengthen local communities and support the growth of our economy?
Immigration has expanded rapidly in recent decades, which is in many respects beneficial. As with previous generations, new arrivals strengthen our economy and enrich our culture. But many Americans feel there is little rhyme or reason to how or why the federal government lets people enter our country. Washington’s major challenge today is that our broken system—originally conceived in 1965—puts little emphasis on whether any given applicant would contribute to the nation’s overall well-being.
America has always been a nation of immigrants. But immigrants come with different skill sets, aptitudes, and interests. How does our half-century-old system select which applicants can come in and which cannot? While many other industrial economies place a heavy emphasis on whether a prospective immigrant is likely to contribute to that nation’s economy, America’s immigration policy is currently based largely on family ties.
Washington has also done a poor job ensuring that approved immigrants arrive quickly and expeditiously— and that others are kept out. Moreover, the government continues to do a patchwork job determining who among those already living here should be sent back—and who should be permitted to stay.
Finally, the rapid increase in immigration has made it more difficult for new arrivals to assimilate into local communities. America has always welcomed newcomers and celebrated the diverse contributions they offer. But those afforded an opportunity to live in America need to embrace certain rhythms of American life.
THE FACTORS
THE IMMIGRATION CHALLENGES
11+ million immigrants are in the country illegally. 42% of undocumented immigrants arrived in the U.S. legally and overstayed their visa.
THE IMMIGRATION OPPORTUNITY
5.9 million Americans are employed by immigrant-owned small businesses. More than 200 of the Fortune 500 companies were founded by an immigrant or child of an immigrant.
Solutions
In shaping immigration policy, the New Center should focus on the most important question: In the long run, what sort of immigration policy would benefit that current citizens of the United States? The answer to that question has become increasingly clear.
SHIFT THE CRITERIA TO GIVE MORE WEIGHT TO ECONOMICS
Family relationships should continue playing a role in determining whether an applicant is given a visa to move to the U.S. But the government should learn from the experience of other countries that put a greater emphasis on whether an applicant is likely to fill a specific labor need, to start a business or to bring some other skill set likely to contribute to the U.S. economy.
STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT AT THE BORDER AND INSIDE THE COUNTRY
Washington is already working to keep smugglers from bringing illegal immigrants into the U.S.—and the authorities are making steady progress. While 1.8 million people crossed the border illegally in 2000, only 200,000 snuck across in 2015—a drop of 88 percent. But one of the best ways to discourage attempted illegal crossings is to prevent people from illegally obtaining work once they are here. Contemporary technology (e.g. E-Verify) can make it much easier to ensure that everyone who works any given job is authorized to do so. Washington should offer both carrots and sticks to encourage employers to utilize that technology.
REIGNITE THE MELTING POT
Much as Americans celebrate the nation’s diversity, those who live within the 50 states need to embrace American culture. Not everyone will learn to speak perfect English, but as with previous waves of immigrants, learning the language should be a rite of passage for those striving to assimilate. And except for special circumstances, basic English competence should be a requirement for completing the naturalization process and attaining U.S. citizenship.
COUPLE PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH MANDATORY TRACKING OF EXPIRED VISAS
Washington should promote a path to earned legal status and eventual citizenship for illegal immigrants in the United States who meet strict conditions such as learning English, paying back taxes and passing rigorous background checks. At the same time, the government should establish a mandatory tracking policy that uses technology to monitor expired visas.
It’s been decades since policymakers took a wholesale look at the nation’s immigration policy—and the old approach is now broken. America has always been and will always be a nation of immigrants. But if the system is going to help drive economic growth in the years and decades to come, Washington will need to embrace wide-ranging reforms.