Immigration: Why Do We Need Immigration Reform?

Over the past several years, immigration has captured the attention of the American public.  We followed the progress of Senate Bill S. 744 working its way through the Senate committees until the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform plan in our US Senate. 

Next, the immigration plan was taken up by the US House of Representatives, and discussions were commenced.  The US House of Representatives began its summer recess in early August, and our US Representatives are now back in their home states for the remainder of this month.  This is an important time for the American public to call, visit, email and write to our US Representatives and tell them what we want.  If you are in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, let your US Representative know your thoughts.  If you are in favor of securer borders, speak up and tell your US Representative. 

Now is not the time to sit back and gripe or complaint about our broken immigration system.  Now is the time to act, and tell the people who can make a difference and who have the power to change our immigration system.  For the remainder of 2013, immigration reform will be on a high list of priorities in our US House.

Immigration reform can be part of the solution to our ailing economy, and can create a stronger nation.  Our heritage is founded on a nation of immigrants.  A working immigration system can contribute to a stronger economy, make it far easier to protect our borders, enforce our laws and provide the jobs; workforce and global intelligence that we need to compete as a world leader. 

As examples, many DREAMERS (young people who were brought to the US as children and have been educated in the US) want to enlist in our military, as of 2010 nearly 18% of all Fortune 500 companies in the US have a founder who was an immigrant and generate $1.7 trillion in annual revenue and employ 3.6 million workers, as of 2007 approximately 18% of all small business owners in the US were immigrants employing 4.7 million people with $776 billion in receipts.  Entrepreneurs fuel innovation; immigrants buy goods and services from US businesses, sustain US jobs and create new jobs. 

Immigration reform can benefit everyone.  Those who are anti-immigration are not aware of the importance that immigration plays in America’s future.  Anti-immigrationists view immigration as a threat, stir up fear and uncertainty, pit people against each other and damage our civic life.

If you are a business owner who depends on immigrant workers because you cannot find American workers willing to take the jobs you are offering, or if your schools depend on the taxes paid by the immigrant families of the children attending your schools, or if you yourself are being employed by an immigrant, let your voice be heard.  Speak up during August and let your US Representative know that you want comprehensive immigration reform.