To thrive, immigration reform is a must

There were nearly $2 billion worth of crops left to rot in U.S. fields last year — crops that farmers depend on seasonal immigrant workers to pick.

Immigrants who are providing labor in a field with an abundance of work to do and a shortage of domestic help to do it, largely because of outdated and irrational immigration laws.

Laws that do not secure our borders. Laws that do not help our economy. Laws that everyone, from cops to the clergy, agree are broken.

Finger-pointing, misguided ideas and a forever-elongated timeline continue to be the barriers for moving forward on implementing smart solutions to our country’s economic problems.

Congress has failed. The president has failed.

While equating sensible immigration reform policies with strengthening the economy isn’t new, it should continue to be an active conversation and viable solution as lawmakers remain stagnant.

The fact is our economy takes a deep hit when we forbid immigrants the opportunity to contribute, and therefore help alleviate, our $17 trillion debt.

The left and right need to be centered on the following:

• The next generation will be the first since our country was founded to be worse off as a whole.
• Smart immigration policies add growth to the gross domestic product.
• Figuring out how to make immigrants a part of the system is essential to grow our economy.
• Comprehensive reform is critical for improving U.S. enforcement.

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