US immigration system has worked fine for 250 years

As a second-generation American-born citizen, I realize how blessed I am that our current president was not in office when my grandfather immigrated to the United States. The president wants to limit newcomers to those who speak English and hold advanced academic degrees.

My grandfather came alone as a teenager. He did not speak a word of English and had virtually no formal education, working here as a bartender his entire life. He did, however, raise two sons; one graduated Penn State and became a successful business owner employing 50 people while the other earned a Harvard doctorate and enjoyed a long career in corporate America. He also assisted other relatives in their immigration and education, including a future Nobel Prize recipient.

My family has been blessed to be among the tens of millions of immigrants welcomed into this great country, many speaking only their native language and lacking formal education but imbued with a driving desire for a better life for themselves and their families. They didn’t bring riches; they brought something better.

Let’s keep doing what has worked for the past 250 years and keep America great.

This story was originally published August 24, 2017 at 4:23 PM with the headline "US immigration system has worked fine for 250 years."