Ed. Note: This is the sixth in a series of posts from top Administration Officials on the importance of the DREAM Act. Read Education Secretary Arne Duncan's post here, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis's contribution here, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke's post here, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's here, and the post from Dr. Clifford L. Stanley, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, here.
From 2000 to 2006, while I was Governor of Iowa, approximately 60 percent of the total population increase in the state was directly attributable to immigrants. Our economy thrived. The new population contributed to local economies, paid taxes, became valued and productive members of their communities and helped lead an economic revitalization in the state.
To continue this progress, I established ‘welcome centers’ to help newly arrived families get settled, work with local schools and civic institutions, and offer workforce development programs and English language courses. And we selected three ‘model cities’ and gave them resources to be more receptive to immigrants.
I am proud of this work, and I think we can do more to encourage and recognize the positive impact that legal immigrants have on communities. But today our nation is failing a different group of immigrants who should have an opportunity to make a difference too.
Fonte: White House