Before this nation can reach a sensible immigration policy it must cool the hysteria fanned by politicians who push the misperception that immigrants are enemies of the American economy. There are signs of hope in Iowa that such a change is possible.
One sign comes in the form of a public opinion survey on immigration issues measuring the attitudes of Iowans who say they are likely to attend next week’s Republican presidential caucuses.
The results may be surprising, because they show that solid majorities of these Iowa Republicans and independents are far from opposed to legal immigration. They agree that immigrants do help grow the economy. Indeed, seven in 10 respondents said they are not opposed to increasing opportunities for legal immigrants to enter the U.S. workforce.
The other piece of evidence is a compact signed by a bipartisan group of Iowa elected officials, faith leaders, law enforcement officials and businessmen and women calling for immigration reform. Among the first to sign were Perry Mayor Jay Pattee and Police Chief Dan Bricker, Evangelical Church of America Bishop Michael Burk, Greater Des Moines Partnership President Martha Willits and former Ambassador Mary Kramer. They say immigration is a federal issue, and it is time for Congress to act.
Read More: It's time for calm debate of immigration
One sign comes in the form of a public opinion survey on immigration issues measuring the attitudes of Iowans who say they are likely to attend next week’s Republican presidential caucuses.
The results may be surprising, because they show that solid majorities of these Iowa Republicans and independents are far from opposed to legal immigration. They agree that immigrants do help grow the economy. Indeed, seven in 10 respondents said they are not opposed to increasing opportunities for legal immigrants to enter the U.S. workforce.
The other piece of evidence is a compact signed by a bipartisan group of Iowa elected officials, faith leaders, law enforcement officials and businessmen and women calling for immigration reform. Among the first to sign were Perry Mayor Jay Pattee and Police Chief Dan Bricker, Evangelical Church of America Bishop Michael Burk, Greater Des Moines Partnership President Martha Willits and former Ambassador Mary Kramer. They say immigration is a federal issue, and it is time for Congress to act.
Read More: It's time for calm debate of immigration
