Diversity

A key reason why America is the world's creative engine is its diversity. People immigrate from all over the world because of the promise of opportunity, but to a great extent this opportunity arises because of the diversity of immigrants. We are the only nation in the world where this self-perpetuating gift is at work, and that's why we have such a strong and lasting competitive advantage.

If there's one thing we ask of Federal immigration policy, it's don't kill the golden goose. Our goal should be to maintain a vibrant, diverse population, with meaningful contributions from every corner of the earth. Many countries have fallen victim to xenophobia, shut their doors to immigrants, and fallen behind. That must not happen to us.

So our ability to accept immigrants should be limited only by our ability to bring them into the economy. We generally rely on market forces, the demand for labor, to regulate this. It is sensible policy to accept more immigrants in times of employment growth and fewer at times of high unemployment, but we should never cut off the flow or intervene in opposition to the needs of the labor market.

It is our responsibility – as well as being in our economic interest – to help immigrants through the transition to American life, in particular by helping them learn English as quickly as possible. New arrivals must adapt to the same concepts of Freedom and Responsibility that the rest of us value, including the Freedom of equal protection under the law, and the Responsibility to pay taxes and contribute to the community. Our immigration policy needs a practical legal framework that ensures that these freedoms and responsibilities happen together.

Political themes: Diversity is America's "golden goose" of creative economic development. Immigrants deserve help adapting to American life, including learning English. Immigrants have the same rights and responsibilities as the rest of Americans.