Brain gain : rethinking U.S. immigration policy / Darrell M. West.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-174) and index.

Preface -- The costs and benefits of immigration -- Competing policy principles -- Overcoming particularistic politics -- Problematic media converage -- Shifting public opinion -- Porous borders and unequal justice -- The Einstein Principle.

In this book the author addresses why immigration policy is so politically difficult in the United States despite the substantial social, economic, intellectual, and cultural benefits it brings. The problem is largely one of vision. U.S. policy ought to recognize and reflect the tremendous benefits of bringing in new blood, yet public discourse and political debates tend to emphasize the perceived downsides. Fear too often trumps optimism and reason. Many of America's greatest artists, scientists, investors, educators, and entrepreneurs have come from abroad. To stay competitive, the United States must institute more of an open-door policy to attract unique talents from other nations. Yet Americans resist such a policy despite their own immigrant histories and the substantial social, economic, intellectual, and cultural benefits of welcoming newcomers. The seeming irrationality of U.S. immigration policy arises from a variety of interrelated factors: particularistic politics and fragmented institutions, public concern regarding education and employment, anger over taxes and social services, and ambivalence about national identity, culture, and language. Reconceptualizing immigration as a way to enhance innovation and competitiveness, the author notes, will help us find the next Albert Einstein.