A open letter to Grandma about Immigration

Dear Grandma,

Rather than trade argumentative messages on Facebook, I wrote this. I’ve done so in good faith, and I hope it’ll be read with an open mind.

I feel strongly on immigration, because I too love America, and I know that the policies that your political movement espouses, besides being immoral, would diminish our economic power (and therefore our military power) over the next few decades.

That is, it’s not just a moral issue for me, but it’s the most important issue that will allow for American dominance to continue in the 21st century.

With that said, you exaggerate my position, so let me be clear: I do not want open borders. I want comprehensive immigration reform, which will always including vetting (as it does now). I’m fine with wasting a few billion on a useless wall and increasing vetting standards in exchange for more visas and green cards. I react against the bigotry — and calls for outright bans in all circumstances — on Muslim refugees. But I’d never advocate just letting anyone in, no questions asked. No one is asking for that.

Economics

The root of the problem is that we have very different worldviews. What’s interesting is that you, yourself, have a socialist worldview. Bear with me, I don’t mean it as an insult — let me explain.

Socialists generally believe that the amount of “wealth” is fixed. That the pie doesn’t get much bigger, so we have to fight over how it’s split. They believe that if one person gets rich, that means another person is now poor. Economic conservatives (of which I am one) understand that everyone can make the pie bigger, that an extra person — through their efforts — can create wealth, making us all wealthier in the end.

You’ve stated we “can’t afford” immigrants, like every single one is just going to sit around on their ass and collect checks from the government. But that has *never* been true over the last two hundred years, and every single fact continues to show it is not true.

I know facts do not matter in changing opinions. But there are plenty that support this. Foreign-born immigrants own 28% of all small businesses in America. Foreign-born immigrants are twice as likely to start businesses than native-born Americans. Foreign-born immigrants have started 25% of all public companies listed on the stock market (like Google). Foreign-born immigrants contribute 75% of patents in America. Foreign-born immigrants are 33% of our entire engineering workforce.

The CBO has estimates that comprehensive immigration reform would increase GDP growth 1.3% over four years, under the most pessimistic assumptions.

You say we cannot afford it. But the data shows we can’t afford NOT to.

Criminals

You seem to think that immigrants are more likely to commit crime. This is just not true. It’s actually the opposite — native-born Americans are more than twice as likely to be criminals than legal and illegal immigrants combined.

The incarceration rate for foreign-born is 297 per 100,000, compared with 813 per 100,000 for native-born.

If you want to believe otherwise, it’s because you choose to believe otherwise. Why do you choose to believe that human beings who are different than you are more likely to be criminals? Ask God.

Employment

Some people — like dear Uncle John — are worried about immigrants taking “our jobs”. I say three things to this.

First, he’s factually wrong. Immigrants actually create jobs. Small businesses started by foreign-born immigrants employ 4.7 million native-born Americans (this is not including the 25% of public companies started by the foreign-born — just small businesses).

Second, even if they “stole” jobs from a native-born American, so what? A native-born American has every advantage in the world. If an immigrant is so hungry for economic success that they can actually outcompete a native-born American for a job, good for them! Our country is stronger for it.

Uneducated, unmotivated people without the skills our country needs should not be protected because they have some birthright to a job. A real American — even if they are foreign-born — is motivated to succeed and make their lives — and those of their children — better. The slackers can fail.

Third, the employment crisis after the great recession is almost over. Unemployment is nearly 5%, and labor is getting tight (which is why the Fed increased interest rates). What is going to hold our economy back over the next two decades is the LACK of workers. We’ll need more people to grow.

Which leads to my next point.

Demographics

Did you know that the United States is the only advanced country in the world that does not have a demographic problem?

China is facing a huge issue, starting in about 15 years. Thanks to their one child policy, by 2050, China’s median age will be 49 years old, with nearly one-third over 60! European countries are in not much better shape. These countries are going to have huge labor shortages — a small number of young people need to support a lot of retired people. Their economic growth will stagnate, just like Japan’s did when they faced this problem in the 90’s.

But thanks to immigration, America does not have this problem. Our fertility rate is 2.08 and growing.

What makes America special?

I travel a fair amount. I’m typically asked by foreigners why I love my country — what’s my favorite thing about it?

My answer is immediate: What makes America special is that anyone can become American. All of our power derives from that.

I can never be Chinese. Even if I somehow got Chinese citizenship, I would never be accepted as a true Chinese by other Chinese. The idea is laughable. I’d always be called a foreigner — and one of their words for foreigner actually translates as barbarian, or in Cantonese slang, “foreign devil”.

But, those who are hungry for success around the world can become American citizens, can think of themselves as American, and will be accepted as an American by other Americans.

That is our greatest strength. That is why 5% of the world’s population has the largest economy and most powerful military ever seen on earth. That is why innovation starts here.

It’s embedded in the soul of America. It’s who we are. We are the land of opportunity. We are the descendants of those who packed up and left their native lands in search for something better. And worked together to create the most powerful country in history.

Nothing has changed. The world is not more dangerous. The world has always been dangerous.

What is the biggest threat to America?

It’s not Islamic terrorism. It’s not the rise of China.

It’s giving into our anger and fear, and changing the very soul of America. We are our own biggest threat.

The xenophobic policies trumpeted by politicians like Trump are the greatest danger to this country. This is nothing new. Since the birth of this country, particularly in the 1850’s, there has always been that dark undercurrent.

But the voices of reason have always been powerful enough to defeat the fear. It’s a battle every generation must fight anew. I’ve chosen my side.

Final Thoughts

I still remember when I was 16 years old, you and my father had a “serious” talk with me. You emphasized that each generation of this family advanced to a higher level. You hoped I’d become a lawyer, and perhaps one day a Senator. It’s a memory that always stuck with me.

I find it sad that, today, if I ever ran for the Senate, you would not vote for me. Politics are now thicker than blood.

But, everything I am now, I am because of you. I will have everlasting gratitude that though your sacrifice, I had the opportunity for a good business education, to travel around the world and experience different cultures, to start a company that helps other people create their businesses, to develop an open and compassionate mind.

It’s arrogant to say, but I am now part of the “elite” in this county. And it is thanks to you, and great-grandma, and great-great grandma, who had the courage to cross an ocean.

Thank you!

I’ll conclude with some quotes from a higher authority than myself, Pope Francis, on immigrants to the US:

“Perhaps it will not be easy for you to look into their soul; perhaps you will be challenged by their diversity. But know that they also possess resources meant to be shared. So do not be afraid to welcome them. Offer them the warmth of the love of Christ and you will unlock the mystery of their heart. I am certain that, as so often in the past, these people will enrich America and its Church.”

“Often, however, such migration gives rise to suspicion and hostility, even ecclesial communities, prior to any knowledge of the migrants’ lives or their stories of persecution and destitution. In such cases, suspicion and prejudice conflict with the biblical commandment of welcoming with respect and solidarity the stranger in need.”