- Immigration is a necessity – We need continued robust immigration flows, especially of high-skilled immigrants, in order to keep our nation both prosperous and secure.
- Fertility rate is declining – Despite a very small post-pandemic uptick, the country’s total fertility rate has fallen well below the replacement level over the past decade and a half.
- Immigration is beneficial to innovation and technical leadership – Immigrants are responsible for 30% of U.S. patents and 38% of U.S. Nobel Prizes in science, and nearly three quarters of all U.S. innovation since 1976 can be attributed to high-skilled immigration.
- AI research is especially important – AI systems will be crucial to precision weaponry in the not-too-distant future, and the U.S. is in danger of falling behind if we don’t retain our ability to welcome China’s best and brightest.
- Border chaos is not worth it – Making it easier to apply for asylum by crossing the border illegally rather than presenting yourself at a point of entry naturally creates a ton of disorder at the border and fuels an anti-immigration sentiment.
- Compromise is necessary – A long-term bargain between increased border security and increased legal pathways to immigration must be struck in order to increase immigration.
Published February 18, 2023
Visit Noahpinion to read Noah Smith’s original post The U.S. cannot afford to turn against immigration
