In Defense of Immigration: The Secret to 250 Years of American Greatness

As we approach the 250th year of American independence, we are called not only to celebrate the birth of a nation, but to reflect on what has allowed that nation to grow, endure, and lead. It is easy to look back and see the brilliance of our founding documents or the bravery of those who defended them – but just as essential to our greatness has been the enduring power of immigration. For two and a half centuries, America has drawn strength from the people who came here seeking freedom, opportunity, and the chance to belong.

Virtually every family in America has its own immigration story – whether etched in ship manifests, whispered through generations, or newly written in airport arrival halls. These stories, taken together, form the living narrative of who we are as a nation.

In my case, the story begins in the mid-1600s with a child born in New Amsterdam to Dutch settlers. Other branches of my family arrived from England in the decades after the founding of Plymouth. My great-great-grandparents journeyed from Ireland in the 1840s, fleeing famine and hardship in search of a new beginning – one of their sons became the first Irish-American governor of Connectcut! These early generations helped build the foundations of the country we celebrate today – sometimes welcomed, often challenged, but always determined to contribute.

Each wave of immigrants has added new strength and dimension to the American story. Irish and German workers helped construct our early infrastructure. Enslaved Africans built much of the South. Italians, Jews, and Eastern Europeans powered the industrial age and infused our cities with vibrant cultures. In the post-war decades, refugees from Vietnam, Haiti, and Cuba found safety here and gave back in countless ways. More recently, immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Latin America have become entrepreneurs, scholars, caregivers, artists, and neighbors – keeping our nation young, diverse, and dynamic.

We often refer to America as a melting pot, but perhaps it is more like a symphony – each voice distinct, each instrument unique, yet all playing toward a greater harmony. Immigration has never diluted American identity; it has deepened and enriched it.

And today, we need that enrichment more than ever. Our birthrate is declining, our economy requires fresh energy, and our future demands global thinking and innovation. We need the best minds and the hardest workers. We need those who arrive with diplomas, and those who arrive with calloused hands. We need all who believe in the promise of America, and who are ready to help renew it.

Emma Lazarus captured this spirit in her immortal words, forever linked with the Statue of Liberty – the beacon that welcomed generations of immigrants as they were processed at Ellis Island:

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

That invitation has never lost its power – nor its truth.

As we honor 250 years of independence, I think of the full sweep of my own family’s American journey. From Dutch and English settlers to Irish immigrants who arrived with little but gave much. And most recently, my wife and oldest daughter – born in Lithuania, now fully part of this American story. Their journey, too, is a testament to the enduring promise of this nation.

Immigration is not America’s exception. It is America’s promise. And it remains our greatest path forward.