Thread by @AliVelshi

1/16
I’m a big fan of American immigration. In fact, I’m a product of American immigration. So, when I think of Thanksgiving, other than getting sleepy from all the food, I remember that there would be no Thanksgiving if not for immigration. #velshi

2/16
Those first pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth Rock 400 years ago were grateful for the bounty of a new land in which they had arrived- and the inhabitants of that land- in this case the Wampanoag Tribe - who welcomed them, and without who’s help, they’d have starved. #velshi

3/16
In hindsight, those first immigrants maybe weren’t the best model, given the genocide and land theft that soon followed. But it’s a fact that America wouldn’t be what it is today if not for immigration. #velshi

4/16
So, it concerns me when America doesn’t work as hard as it should to attract the world’s best and brightest minds. As the Washington Post reports, “the global economy heats up and tries to put the pandemic aside, a battle for the young and able has begun...” #velshi

5/16
“…With fast-track visas and promises of permanent residency, many of the wealthy nations driving the recovery are sending a message to skilled immigrants all over the world: Help wanted. Now.” #velshi

6/16
Countries are racing to recruit foreign workers. Germany is offering accelerated work visas and six months to visit and find a job. Australia plans to nearly double the number of migrants it allows into the country over the next year. #velshi

7/16
And my beloved Canada will grant residency to 1.2M new immigrants by 2023. With aging workforces, negative population replacement rates and labor shortages, even countries that have historically resisted immigration, like Japan, are opening the door to new workers. #velshi

8/16
The world’s developed countries are taking stock and realizing that welcoming people in is just much more economically productive than keeping people out. #velshi

9/16
For those who still need to be convinced of it, the Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development- the group of the world's most developed nations - released data that shows migrants contribute more to taxes than they receive in benefits, health, & education. #velshi

10/16
It’s a simple concept but one with which America REALLY struggles. America is obsessed with baddies sneaking across our borders. So much so that we have lost the plot on attracting the world’s best. U.S. immigration policies are broken. #velshi

11/16
We let too few people in & make it too hard for those people to stay, even when they've been educated in America. We have onerous visa renewal processes, when we should be rolling out the carpet to ensure skilled workers never give a thought to living anywhere else. #velshi

12/16
While other nations are racing to create programs to attract skilled foreign workers, America’s fear-based immigration policies are basically scaring skilled workers away. And a lot of Americans are fine with that. #velshi

13/16
A new CBS News poll found that 1 in 5 Americans would stop most or all immigration right now. I’d like to talk to those folks so I can understand a bit about how they think an America without immigrants will work. #velshi

14/16
America stands to lose out on the most intelligent, hardworking, and skilled people in the world. And, after that, the U.S. will risk falling behind in entrepreneurship, technology, health, science - everything. #velshi

15/16
The Build Back Better bill passed by the House includes provisional work permits for about 6.5M undocumented people in the U.S., but who knows what happens to that provision in the Senate. #velshi

16/16
The problem with not understanding the value of immigration- and lots of it- is by the time everyone figures it out, it’ll be too late. The time to prioritize getting more people into America is now. #velshi