Why higher education needs immigration reform

By J. Michael Ortiz. Over the last month, I have been heartened to see that immigration reform is again an issue of national prominence. A bipartisan group of senators proposed overhauling our immigration policies. Their plan would lift the threat of deportation for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.
I am not a fan of every provision in the bill, but I agree with enough to urge you to support it. These issues hit close to home - not just for me, but for everyone. Let me cite two major reasons. Immigration reform is good for our economy. But it also is good for our souls. Let me explain.
I work at a university. Each year, about 4,000 students graduate. We have relationships with industries to ensure that our graduates are career ready. By graduation, they have put their classroom knowledge to the test in real-world exercises. Read more...