Honoring the Spirit of America: A Conversation about Immigration 

A common refrain is that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants—that the spirit of America directly stems from the fact that most Americans have ancestors who are immigrants. Immigration is a link to the past and a bridge to the future. We’re called a melting pot, where people come to achieve the “American Dream,” to settle their families, to work and start their businesses.

Nearly half of Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants or their children. Immigrants have also started more than half of the start-up companies valued at $1 billion or more, with nearly two-thirds of U.S. “unicorns” (billion-dollar companies) being founded or co-founded by immigrants or their children.

However, in the United States today, foreign entrepreneurs seeking to work or start businesses are left without a viable path to do so. Furthermore, bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. is also highly problematic in today’s challenging economy because securing foreign-born low and unskilled workers is so difficult.

Join the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia and Independence National Historical Park to learn from a panel of speakers who will provide insight into why immigration—throughout U.S. history—has been so important and how we can continue to address the challenges of immigration policy today.