I've never understood the fear of immigrants in our communities. I don't like the tone of the term for its labeling of groups of people as 'others', different, folks to be wary of...
We're a nation of immigrants. In every family, there is an an ancestor that entered our country, now theirs too, under terms we'd now call illegal.
Our nation was created from the collective efforts of our forefathers to come here, illegally, to pursue their dreams of freedom. Freedom to worship. Freedom to speak out. And freedom to pursue their dreams of owning their own business, owning their destiny.
That drive for freedom, to build a better life for themselves and their families, has served all of us well. It serves as the source of highly motivated workers and role models. Anyone motivated enough to walk here from...Guatemala or El Salvador or...pack up their belongings, and travel to a land where they don't speak the language of their new neighbors, to pursue a dream...are the very definition of motivated. These are the role models who lead by example to show the power of self-discipline, commitment, sacrifice, determination, delayed gratification, focus, planning, goal-setting. We need more, not fewer.
And surprisingly, immigrants are 30% more likely to start a business than non-immigrants. They account for 11.6% of all U.S. business income...according to this article in today's USAToday.
Business startups are the source of new jobs. Business startups led by those motivated enough to travel to a new country or continent are led by exemplary role models. Jobs and positive role models are positive contributions to their families, their communities, their new country which is our country which only becomes a better country with a more diversified economy....
What's my point? Before we craft attitudes or policies, rules or laws, may we first consider data, current and historical? The data I see shows that immigration is a source of startups and jobs for our economy. Right now, we need both.
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