Immigration reform is often viewed as a liberal issue, championed mainly by Democrats. A new study from the George W. Bush Institute debunks that myth and makes the case that reform is in line with Republican philosophy and is good for the U.S. economy.
“The engine for growth for the U.S. has been immigrants,” Jim Glassman, executive director of the Bush Institute, told ABC News. “President Bush himself, Jeb Bush, President Bush’s father, George H. W. Bush … they’ve been dedicated to having a sensible immigration policy for decades now. And as far as conservatives in general, most conservatives want growth.”
President Bush tried to offer a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants with a comprehensive bill in 2006, but the effort failed because the House and Senate couldn’t consolidate their versions of the bill.
“The evidence is very clear that immigrants come here with one purpose, largely, and that’s to work,” says Bush Institute research fellow Matthew Denhart.
In order for comprehensive immigration reform to happen, we will need widespread support from not only the advocacy community and pro-immigration Democrats, but from more conservative Republicans as well.
Studies from organizations with conservative ties like the Bush Institute show all of us exactly why America needs immigration reform. Not only will a comprehensive overhaul of our immigration system keep our families together, it will be good for our economy as well.
