Mitt Romney and Barack Obama must make immigration part of the 2012 election
Adults and children wait outside the Mexican Consulate in Houston to obtain documents necessary to apply for work permits available under President Obama's executive order. (Aug. 14, 2012) Credit: AP
The candidates for president should be talking about reforming the nation's immigration system to attract the world's best and brightest to create jobs in the United States.
We should not be driving away entrepreneurs, seasonal workers in short supply, and people who earn graduate degrees at American universities in science, technology, engineering and math. They could be an incredible engine for the nation's sluggish economy. But there will be no mandate for the next president to tap that resource if the campaigns remain silent on immigration.
Starting yesterday the Dream Act "lite" allows people brought into the country illegally as children to apply to live and work here for two years without fear of deportation. President Barack Obama skirted the gridlocked Congress in June when he signed an executive order putting that scaled-down version of the stalled Dream Act in place for illegal immigrants ages 15 to 31 who came to the country before they were 16, completed high school or served in the military, and have no criminal record. It was the practical and humane thing to do for children who didn't choose to come here illegally and know no other home.
It's a small step in the right direction.
Illegal immigration is such an explosive issue that Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney apparently would prefer to avoid it altogether. That's the path of least resistance, since the public is bitterly polarized on what to do about 11 million people here illegally. But using the campaign to build a mandate for targeted reforms that would allow highly skilled people and temporary farm workers to more easily immigrate without breaking the law would be a much better course for the nation.
Start-up businesses account for the lion's share of U.S. job growth, and immigrants were twice as likely as native-born Americans to start new businesses in 2010 and 2011, according to studies cited Tuesday by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and business leaders pushing for a campaign debate on immigration.
Nations around the world are competing hard for talented scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs who can drive economic growth. The United States needs to get into the game.
