Business Seek to Promote Immigrant Assimilation, Change Tenor of National Immigration Debate

The Washington Post has an interesting article today about employer efforts to facilitate immigrant assimilation.  Marriott International has aestablished a no-cost “Thirst for Knowledge” program.  Marriott is among several dozen major U.S. corporations spearheading a campaign to turn the divisive national debate about immigration in a more positive direction. The program, among other things, promotes English language acquisition.  Business leaders hope to counter criticism that immigrants steal jobs and burden public services by highlighting the contributions they make to the U.S. economy and improving their ability to integrate. The initiative is supported by a bill recently introduced in Congress. Sponsored by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and others, it would provide $350 million for immigrant family literacy programs, individual tax credits for teachers and tax breaks for firms that offer educational workplace programs.  The Americas Society and Council of the Americas recently issued a report called “U.S. Business and Hispanic Integration: Expanding the Economic Contributions of Immigrants.” It concludes that foreign-born workers have much to offer th enation but need more help to master English and become more invested in American society.

This approach seems like one constructive approach to concerns with the integration of immigrants into American social life.  We as a nation should do more to encourage state and local governments, as well as the private sector, to engage in such efforts rather than complaining about immigrants, seeking to punish them, and calling on the federal government to act punitively as well.

KJ