Business Forum: How Immigration Can Create Jobs
Date: June 18, 2012
Star Tribune
June 17, 2012
Many of our state’s largest companies were founded by immigrants. So why aren’t we more welcoming?
What has made this country great is its rich heritage of people coming together from all nations. Even though the country faces high unemployment, now is not the time to adopt a protectionist immigration strategy. We should use immigration to accelerate job creation, by attracting the best talent in the world, and making it easier for our companies to compete and grow.
The influx of individuals from around the world has provided the engine for our economic development. This is what has made us the most innovative, most prosperous nation on earth. As an illustration, a recent report from the Partnership for a New American Economy has found that more than 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children.