We must secure our border and modernize our laws governing legal immigration.

Immigrants represent 14 percent of the U.S. population and produce 17 percent of our economic output.

America’s construction, agriculture, and hospitality sectors depend on low-skilled immigrant labor (particularly for seasonal jobs), while our tech, engineering, and education sectors depend on high-skilled immigrants. Today, immigrants are driving workforce growth (critical to economic growth, as well as entitlement programs like Social Security) and new job creation.

The bad news? Most of our laws governing immigration (including temporary visas) are nearly 40 years old. Compared with our competitors, the U.S. grants fewer visas based on an immigrant’s potential contribution to our economy.