Global Competitiveness
The United States has long been the destination for the world’s most talented immigrants. Despite the last 50 years of technological advancement, American immigration policy has remained virtually unchanged, putting in danger America's global competitiveness. Yesterday's immigration policy no longer meets today’s economic needs. Only about 14 percent of all U.S. green cards are given for economic reasons, compared to more than 60 percent in Canada and Australia. With no dedicated visa for entrepreneurs and numerous barriers to residency in place for international students to stay after graduation, America's outdated immigration policy could allow other countries to out-compete us by attracting and keeping the best and brightest there and not here.
Immigration Restrictions Injure the U.S. Manufacturing Base, Says the Owner of MacLean-Fogg Manufacturing
American manufacturing is extremely competitive — but the country’s immigration policies are making it harder for U.S. firms to compete in the global marketplace, says Barry MacLean, chairman and CEO of MacLean-Fogg. MacLean should know, his Mundelein-based manufacturing company operates 30 manufacturing facilities across the United States, employs 4,500 people… Read More
South Carolina Nonprofit Director Knows Firsthand the Importance of a Welcoming Community
As a Mexican immigrant, Adela Mendoza knows the importance of a welcoming community. After arriving in the United States at age 24 to study English at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, she married an American and set out to make a place for herself in her new home. When… Read More
Republican Professor Says Immigration Reform Is Vital for the U.S. Economy
During his 33-year career as a professor at the University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Peoria, Tom Hjelle, now retired, witnessed a dramatic demographic shift in the medical school. What began as a predominantly white and male student body transformed into one that draws men and women from different… Read More
Alberto Cardenas: Miami Republican Strategist Urges Immigration Reform
“I’m in love with America,” says Cuban-born attorney and Republican political strategist Alberto “Al” Cardenas. “It gave us an opportunity that I could not have had anywhere else. …I believe that every citizen should have an obligation to not only do for themselves and their families, but to a bigger… Read More
Language Diversity and the Workforce: The Growing Need for Bilingual Workers in Massachusetts’ Economy
On June 21, New American Economy (NAE) joined with business leaders and education advocates at the Massachusetts State House to call for the creation of a state Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy, which formally recognizes high school graduates who are proficient in more than one language, has been hailed as an… Read More
Republican Congressional Candidate from Tennessee Wants to See Immigration Reform—Not a Wall
Hunter Baker, an associate professor of political science at Tennessee’s Union University, is concerned about the future of the American economy, specifically as it relates to immigration. As one of 13 Republican candidates who competed to replace Congressman Stephen Fincher in Tennessee’s 8th district, he sees that “People are buying… Read More
Report on New Americans in San José & Santa Clara County Highlights Economic Contributions of Immigrants
CONTACTS Sarah Doolin, New American Economy, [email protected] Zulma Maciel, Strategic Partnerships and Office of Immigrant Affairs, City of San José, [email protected]; (408) 535-8146 Silicon Valley Business Roundtable discusses local immigrant integration; new report shows foreign-born households… Read More
Morales Group Founder Knows Immigrants Are Vital to Filling the Indianapolis Labor Shortage
The headquarters of the Morales Group is decorated with flags of 27 countries, and the word “Welcome” written in 27 languages. It’s a reminder of the many thousands of people, from around the world that the Indianapolis-based staffing agency has helped to begin new careers in America. The Morales Group,… Read More
Economist and College President: Those Students the U.S. Sends Home? They Could be the Next Google
Growing up in a middle-class family in Monterrey, Mexico, Jorge Gonzalez saw people living around him in poverty and longed to change the world. Now a respected professor of economics and the newly appointed president of Kalamazoo College, where he oversees more than 100 faculty and some 1,400 undergraduates, he… Read More
Starting a Promising Firm Didn’t Insulate this Iranian Scientist from Visa Worries
In 2004, Mehdi Yazdanpanah triggered a chemical reaction in a University of Louisville lab that, to his surprise, created tiny, metallic points. Intrigued, he devised a way to form individual needles – microscopic in size, yet conductive and strong, a unique combination that could advance cancer and other microscopic research. Read More
Impending Labor Challenges
The United States is facing demographic challenges that endanger its preeminent economic position in the world. An aging workforce threatens the vitality of the labor force. At the same time, the supply of U.S.-trained engineers is lagging behind nearly all other industrialized economies. At a time when tech-heavy and innovation driven industries are driving economic growth, the United States faces the prospect of being left behind.
Table 1: Share of Population Age 65+, 1996, 2006, 2016 and projected 2030
Table 2: Share of Undergrads Studying Engineering
Prioritizing Economic Needs
Many countries have identified the link between immigration and economic growth. For many, such moves are a matter of necessity–the domestic labor force is not sufficient for an expanding economy, and aging populations and declining fertility rates are creating labor shortages. Despite facing some of the same challenges, U.S. immigration policy has not changed to reflect our economy’s evolving needs.
Table 3: Percentage of All Permanent Residency Visas Given for Economic Reasons*
Need for a Start-Up Visa
Countries around the world, from France, to Chile, to Singapore have created visas aimed at attracting promising entrepreneurs and job creators. Despite concerns about meager job creation and business growth, however, the United States has not taken a similar step, endangering our position in the global race for talent. This situation was made worse in 2017 when the administration took the first steps to kill the International Entrepreneur Rule, a measure that would have allowed entrepreneurs with outside funding to remain in the country for 2.5 years to establish their businesses.
