Russel Sage Foundation

Dowell Myers, author of the RSF book Immigrants and Boomers published an op-ed in the New York Times today. Myers first notes data showing immigration from Mexico has slowed to a trickle—some experts believe the number of new Mexicans settled in the U.S. may be zero—while the illegal immigrant population has shrunk by about 200,000 a year. So, Myers argues, we need to shift from a policy focused on restricting immigration to one that looks to assimilate those who are here:

How do we change course and begin treating immigrants as a vast, untapped human resource? The answer goes to the heart of shifting from an immigration policy to an immigrant policy.

For starters, the billions of dollars spent on border enforcement should be gradually redirected to replenishing and boosting the education budget, particularly the Pell grant program for low-income students. Some money could be channeled to nonprofits like ImmigrationWorks and Welcoming America, which are at the forefront of helping migrants assimilate.

Second, the Departments of Labor, Commerce and Education need to play a greater role in immigration policy. Yes, as long as there remains a terrorist threat from abroad, the Department of Homeland Security should have an immigration component. But immigration policy is all about cultivating needed workers. That means helping immigrants and their children graduate from high school and college. It means that no migrant should have to stand in line for an English class. It means assistance in developing migrants’ job skills to better compete in an increasingly information- and knowledge-based economy.

Read the full op-ed: "The Next Immigration Challenge." You can also read the first chapter of his book here.