Evidence clearly affirms immigrants are a powerful and positive force in the U.S. economy
DALLAS— On Monday, the George W. Bush Institute, in partnership with The Latino Coalition and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, released the third edition of America’s Advantage: A Handbook on Immigration and Economic Growth. With a goal to refocus the immigration debate on tangible facts and promote the pro-growth reform that these facts support, the handbook presents economic evidence about immigration that is too commonly overlooked.
“The immigration policy conversation too often is driven by anecdotes,” said Laura Collins, Deputy Director of the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth Initiative. “The facts in the handbook show that immigration should be part of a pro-growth economic policy.”
Immigrant’s role in the U.S. economy often is misunderstood. The handbook offers compelling statistics about immigration today, including:
- More than 40 percent of Fortune 500 businesses were started by an immigrant.
- Recent immigrants are more likely to have college degrees than native-born Americans and are more likely to have advanced degrees.
- 30 percent of immigrants come from Asia, and currently more are coming from China than Mexico.
To bring these statistics to life, the Bush Institute has launched an immigration series profiling immigrants from different backgrounds who have come to the U.S. to attain the American Dream. To view stories of America’s immigrants, please visit www.bushcenter.org/immigration.
New to this handbook edition are chapters on immigration in Canada and Mexico, our neighbors and close allies. From these chapters we can learn how Canada’s immigrant population, chosen overwhelmingly by a merit-based system, looks compared to our system, which is based on family reunification. The Mexico chapter demonstrates the important role that immigration plays in the U.S.-Mexico relationship, particularly highlighting how Mexico’s own security efforts complement U.S. border security efforts.
“The U.S. has not passed major immigration reform legislation since the Reagan Administration, and we still use standards developed in the 1960s to determine which people we permit to enter the U.S,” said Kenneth A. Hersh, President and Chief Executive Officer of the George W. Bush Center. “A system this outdated cannot possibly meet the needs of our vibrant, growing 21st century economy. At the Bush Center, we believe immigration policy should be used as a tool for economic growth and prosperity.”
The handbook is part of the Bush Institute Economic Growth Initiative’s ongoing efforts to promote economic growth through free markets and an open global economy – beginning with regional economic integration with our North American neighbors, which we believe enables the U.S. to better compete in the global economy.
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About the George W. Bush Institute:
Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. The work is achieved through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and the Engagement Agenda – by which the Bush Institute engages the greater community with its important work.
