We spend a lot of time in America debating immigration reform. We talk about how to make our borders more secure. We deconstruct the DREAM Act. We ask whether immigrants are stealing jobs from quote “real Americans.”
The Partnership for a New American Economy, a bipartisan group of mayors and business leaders from across the country, thinks we need to look at things differently. They released a new report yesterday that suggests our economic prosperity depends on increasing opportunities for immigrants to enter the American workforce.
The group includes leaders from businesses like Microsoft, Alcoa, and Walt Disney, and from the mayoral offices of cities like New York, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Among them is John Feinblatt, New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s chief policy advisor. Claudio Carnino is an Italian technology entrepreneur who settled in Chile when the United States made it too difficult for him to immigrate here. His start-up, Challengein, makes customized cell phone games that can be used in advertising campaigns.