Immigrants: They get the Job Done

One of the reasons I am so proud to be an Eisenhower Fellow is that the organization that administers the program, Eisenhower Fellowships, is chaired by General Colin Powell.  The man is the embodiment of American exceptionalism and his life story demonstrates the greatness of the United States in a way that a thousand editorials and videos could never do.

A significant part of that story is his immigrant background, which he talks about in an excellent piece he wrote for the Wall Street Journal. The biggest takeaway:  America stands to benefit from immigration as much as, if not more than, the immigrants themselves. And, in the midst of Missouri’s refusal to grant in-state tuition to “Dreamer” and DACA students, Powell reminds us that guaranteeing the opportunity of education to every child is not charity, but rather an investment in the nation’s future.

That theme is echoed by the Federal Reserve. During remarks made last month in St. Louis during the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, James Bullard, President of the St. Louis Fed, said that the United States would benefit from “a coherent macro-oriented immigration policy.”  He continued, “It’s a fantastic thing that people want to come to your country.  We should channel all that energy to get good macroeconomic outcomes.”

Welcoming immigrants has given this country access to immense talent, from Hamilton through Powell and all of the unsung others whose toil, sacrifice, and fortitude created this country where today you and I have the luxury of enjoying liberty and prosperity unmatched in the history of the world.  That is our legacy.  We must protect it.