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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity . . .
—Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
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The fact that we have so many points of contention suggests that our immigration system is broken. State governments and future administrations have to be aware that there is significant collateral damage from political gridlock—we’re working against our own best interests when we make it impossible for the best and brightest foreign students to onboard into U.S. companies. Essentially, that means we’re just training them to compete with us.
I think the present focus on immigration in the STEM segment of the economy is shortsighted. Yes, science, technology, engineering, and math are all important. But so are art, matters of the creative, and commerce. New York’s fashion business, for example, puts 180,000 people to work in some nine hundred companies and has a combined payroll of $10 billion. Our economy has benefited by bringing in many risk-takers and entrepreneurs from outside our borders. We need to reassess our treatment of foreign nationals at all stages, but especially students, to ensure that American businesses have the pick of the world’s talent. We also have to make sure our regulations match the business environment. It completely perplexes me to learn that the H1B3 visa for fashion models is not available during fashion season.
Other countries have developed aggressive systems to secure foreign talent. The United State cannot afford to be passive in this world market—that’s the road to marginalization. Our future governments at all levels must be in synch to bring foreign talent on board if we want to stay ahead of others. Inclusiveness fuels creativity, increases diversity in terms of gender and geographic background, and harnesses new business for the U.S. economy. As a mayor, I saw the local effects of a broken system—“stacking” of housing in urban centers; burgeoning muster zones for day laborers; financial burdens borne by taxpayers—yet the impetus for the federal government to do something remains low. The United States must act in a united manner to deal with the problem. I see this not merely as a business issue but as a matter of national security.
We must use immigration—the offer of a safe haven—as a weapon in today’s chaotic world to attract the all-important human asset intelligence our law enforcement and national security agencies need to keep us safe. Eyes in the sky, whether satellites or drones, can only go so far. We need to create a fast track into our system for foreign diplomats, whistle-blowers, and well-intended human asset intelligence that is seamless and provides safety to those who would protect our interests—and their families.
Observers of Congress have said that the number of private immigration bills can serve as a barometer for how well the immigration system is working as a whole. The pitifully small number of such bills actually passed shows how even this court of last resort has become bogged down in politics. Some of this low output can be traced to reforms instituted some years ago after abuse of the system. But it boggled my mind that Kwame James, a foreign national who saved almost two hundred lives, couldn’t find relief through Congress; whereas Michael Wilding, a British actor with a drug conviction, received this benefit. I’m not casting stones at Mr. Wilding. In some ways, his situation reminded me of my father’s famous client, John Lennon. I’d like to believe that it’s entirely beside the case that Mr. Wilding’s mother was Elizabeth Taylor and his stepfather was Senator John Warner. Because if it requires a movie star and a senator to move Congress, we really have to take a hard look at our system.
America’s Golden Doors require a good polishing and constant maintenance to protect us from danger. We must ensure that they will swing open wide in welcome to those who will benefit the democratic experiment envisioned by our founding fathers. Looking to the future, we never know who next will enter those gates to bring new vitality and discovery to the United States. Let us hope our legacy will be the excitement of opening doors rather than the insecurity of slamming them shut.