s the world enters a new era of great power competition, particularly with the rise of China as a formidable economic and geopolitical rival, the United States must recognize one of its most critical advantages: immigration. The anti-immigrant rhetoric espoused by Donald Trump and many right-wing Republicans is not just morally questionable; it is economically self-defeating and strategically shortsighted.

Migrants are not a burden—they are an essential asset. America’s historical greatness has never been rooted in racial purity or cultural homogeneity, but in its openness to those who dare to leave behind familiarity and comfort for the hope of a better life. To remain competitive, innovative, and vibrant, the U.S. must continue to be a beacon for the world’s strivers.

Every person who survives the perilous journey to the southern border is already demonstrating the resilience, tenacity, and courage that America so often claims to prize. These are not people looking for handouts. They are people looking for a chance. And in their pursuit of that chance, they bring with them the exact attributes that built this country: ambition, hard work, and a refusal to give up.

The history of America is, in large part, the history of immigrants. From the early settlers escaping religious persecution in Europe to the waves of Irish, Italian, German, Chinese, and Mexican migrants who helped build our railroads, farms, factories, and cities, the United States has always drawn strength from those willing to take the hard road to freedom. The modern immigrant is no different. Whether working in agriculture, healthcare, technology, or construction, today’s migrants are filling vital roles in our economy that many Americans are unwilling or unable to take.

Meanwhile, the demographic reality facing the U.S. is stark. Birth rates are falling. The workforce is aging. Social programs like Social Security and Medicare are strained. Without a young, growing population, the American economy cannot sustain its global dominance. China, for all its centralized planning, faces a shrinking workforce and rapidly aging population. The U.S., with the right immigration policies, could turn this looming demographic crisis into a competitive advantage.

Turning away migrants at the border is not just cruel—it’s economically foolish. Each person we reject is a potential entrepreneur, teacher, nurse, builder, or soldier. They are future taxpayers, future innovators, future citizens who could carry forward the American experiment. In pushing them away, we are undermining our own future.

America's immigration system needs reform, yes, but not restriction. We need a system that recognizes and rewards effort, character, and contribution—not one built around fear and exclusion. We need pathways to citizenship, protection for dreamers, and humane policies that treat asylum-seekers not as invaders but as future Americans.

This is not a question of charity. It is a question of national interest. Immigration is not just about who we let in. It’s about who we become.

In the end, the question isn’t whether migrants deserve to be in America. It’s whether America deserves migrants.

Published 5/17/2025