Brain Gain Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy

by West, Darrell M.

• ISBN13: 9780815704829
• ISBN10: 0815704828
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-06-15
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Summary

Many of America's greatest artists, chefs, investors, entrepreneurs, and leadershave come from abroad. Advances in atomic energy, information technology,international commerce, sports, arts, and culture are directly attributable totalented immigrants. Indeed, America experiences a "brain gain" from in-migration,and therefore needs to maintain its openness to new arrivals to stay competitive andgain access to the special talents of other lands. Yet many Americans still don't see itthat way, despite pride in their own ethnic ancestries.In Brain Gain, Darrell West addresses why immigration policy is so politically difficultin the United States despite the substantial social, economic, intellectual, andcultural benefits it brings. The problem is largely one of vision. U.S. policy ought torecognize and reflect the tremendous benefits of bringing in new blood, yet public discourse and political debates tend to emphasize the perceived downsides. Fear too often trumps optimism and reason.Democracy is messy, with policy principles that are hard to reconcile. The seemingirrationality of U.S. immigration policy arises from a variety of thorny and interrelatedfactors: particularistic politics and fragmented institutions, concern regardingeducational and employment opportunities, anger over taxes and social services, andambivalence about national identity, culture, and language. Add to that stew a myopicpress, persistent fears of terrorism, and the difficulties of implementing border enforcement and legal justice. No wonder we can't see the forest for the trees.West argues for a series of reforms to U.S. immigration policy, including the following: Improve legal justice Take border security more seriously Tighten employment verification Depoliticize political conflict through an independent commission Tie immigration levels to national economic cycles Take stronger steps to integrate new immigrants into American lifeThese reforms will put America on a better course for the future and enhance our longterm social and economic prosperity. Reconceptualizing immigration will help us findthe next Sergey Brin, the next Vartan Gregorian, or even the next Albert Einstein.Contents1. The Costs and Benefits of Immigration 2. Competing Policy Principles 3. Overcoming Particularistic Politics 4. Problematic Media Coverage5. Shifting Public Opinion6. Porous Borders and Unequal Justice7. The Einstein Principle

Author Biography

Darrell M. West is vice president and director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. Among his sixteen previous books are Digital Medicine: Health Care in the Internet Era (Brookings, 2009), Biotechnology Policy across National Boundaries (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007), and Digital Government: Technology and Public Sector Performance (Princeton, 2005).

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
The Costs and Benefits of Immigration	p. 1
Competing Policy Principles	p. 21
Overcoming Particularistic Politics	p. 41
Problematic Media Coverage	p. 65
Shifting Public Opinion	p. 87
Porous Borders and Unequal Justice	p. 107
The Einstein Principle	p. 126
Notes	p. 155
Index	p. 175
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