The Colorado Immigration Reform Coalition responded to the  RAISE Act, new legislation sponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.), and called for a revised solution that harnesses the economic power of foreign-born workers in the U.S. economy. The proposed bill was endorsed this week by President Trump, and called for a substantial limit to legal immigration.

While the coalition agrees on the need to modernize our broken immigration system with merit-based solutions, the bill contains a broad misconception that immigrants are hindering the wages of American workers. In fact, research has shown time and time again that foreign-born workers often act as key drivers of  innovation and  job creation, and do their part in  filling the workforce gaps that the American economy faces with its ongoing aging crisis. Instead, the coalition is urging Congress to take an approach that harnesses the power of immigrants to create a streamlined process that attracts the best talent, builds the workforce needed to support America's industries, and ultimately lays the groundwork for greater economic growth.