“I think that would be a disaster,” Minniti said of a bill passed by the House of Representatives late last year that could significantly restrict the number of immigrants coming to and staying in the USA.A bill passed by the Senate in May would be less restrictive.
Historically, entrepreneurship in the USA has been highest among immigrants launching grocery stores, construction companies and other businesses serving their communities.
For example, the number of Hispanic-owned firms — many started by Mexican immigrants whether here legally or illegally — soared to 1.6 million from 1997 to 2002, the Census Bureau said this spring. That 31% jump was three times the growth of all firms.
“This is a country of immigrants,” Minniti says. “They replenish the core of the population that is more likely to generate businesses.” Immigrants tend to be younger and have more children, creating generations of future entrepreneurs.
Photo by DC Rob.
Willioam Lezotte-EAUSA on July 15th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Yes this country was founded on immigrants (originally the English settlers breaking away from the atistocracy) but the important thing to remember here is that we are weakened immesurably by ILLEGAL immigration! To reward the immigrants that entered into America ILLEGALLY is folly, and a mockery of our immigration policy. I encourage LEGAL entry into America and expect the ILLEGAL immigrants to be rounded up and sent home. Unfortunatly this can never happen now because we hav turned a blind eye to them for far to long and the economy of California (the sixth largest economy in the world, bigger than France and Italy combined) is now completely dependent on this ILLEGAL labor pool. If we could return all of the illegal immigrants home again California would go bancrupt immediatly! This would destroy the whole American economy and we would not be able to recover. And of course as far as Mexico goes, one third of their economy is completely supported by the ILLEGAL transfer of US dollars back to Mexico. It doesn’t take a genius to see why this cleansing would, and could, NEVER happen…it is simply too late for that now. So the Mexican economy would be ruined as well. Economics 101.