U.S. Policies Should Encourage Immigration
By Kirk A. Carter

Special to the Worcester Business Journal (MA)

08/15/11

Anyone who fails to recognize the important role that immigration plays in the U.S. economy should read a recent report issued by the Partnership for a New American Economy.

That report notes that 41 percent of the Fortune 500 companies had at least one founder who was either a first- or second-generation immigrant. These companies have $4.2 trillion in annual revenues and employ 10.9 million people worldwide. Ninety of the companies were founded by first-generation immigrants, including Google, Yahoo, Ebay, Comcast and Intel.

While the report notes that immigrant entrepreneurs “have been essential to American prosperity,â€