The Immigrant Superpower

Immigration is part of the American identity.

The arrival of the Pilgrims in 1620, the “huddled masses” of the 20th century catching their first view of the Statue of Liberty, and the achievements of immigrant scientists, artists and entrepreneurs are foundational aspects of America’s identity. The founders of the United States envisioned a “nation of immigrants” that would draw people from all over the world. But throughout its history, America has vacillated in its attitude toward immigration.

Today’s conventional political wisdom is that the US immigration system is “broken.” Current immigration policy is a tangle of sometimes conflicting rules and laws. But efforts to restrict legal immigration drastically , as the US Senate considered in mid-2022, are not the solution. Successful reform must acknowledge the essential role immigrants have played in making the United States the wealthiest nation in history. 

The United States has always alternated between open and restrictive immigration policies. 

Thomas Jefferson and some of the other founders saw robust immigration...