Immigration

Since America’s founding, immigration has been a vital part of our nation’s story: it helped transform an 18^th-century farming colony into the world’s leading innovator and manufacturer — a superpower.  America continues to be strengthened by those who come here in search of a better life. 

When immigrants integrate and advance in our society, they realize their dreams, they renew our spirit, and they add to the unity of the nation. Full integration of immigrants into the American economy and culture is the responsibility of the entire community, not just the job of the immigrants themselves. The success of the country depends upon helping newcomers embrace our common identity as Americans — our shared ideals, history, flag, and language. 

Every year that goes by without reforming our broken immigration system means that we miss opportunities to ensure the future prosperity, vitality, and security of our nation.  At the Bush Institute, we are committed to changing the terms of this debate and offering solutions that are bold and politically viable. 

We are committed to changing the terms of this debate and offering bold, principle-based solutions. Successful immigration reform should be based on the following principles:

• Dreamers should be able to apply for citizenship
• America should uphold our longstanding tradition of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers
• We should manage our borders through investment, innovation, and by helping our neighbors
• Our immigration systems should meet the needs of our 21st-century economy
• We should create a more efficient temporary foreign worker entry program
• The United States needs a rigorous, fair process for undocumented immigrants to get right with the law