I was recently in Washington D.C. attending the International Leadership Foundation’s (ILF) annual awards gala, a gathering of many notable leaders from the Asian Pacific American (APA) community who support programs of training and scholarship for college students. The participation of so many successful immigrants and children of immigrants offers the APA youth involved in the program with evidence of the incredible accomplishments possible in America for all citizens, regardless of class, culture or birthplace.
The Honorable Mazie Hirono, Senator from Hawaii, attended the festivities and was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her distinguished leadership and extensive accomplishments. As the first and only Asian-American Senator, as well as, currently the sole immigrant serving in the U.S. Senate, she was applauded by the APA community for her example of leadership. The stories of immigrant leaders like Sen. Hirono offer evidence of immigrant success and a unique perspective on how to overcome humble beginnings, grasp new opportunities and break glass ceilings.
Since migrating to Hawaii as a child, she continuously and purposefully applied the values of hard work, leadership and commitment to her aspirations. Her mother fled an abusive husband in Japan, seeking a better life for herself and her children in America. Like so many other immigrants, Sen. Hirono was raised with a can-do work ethic and a take-nothing-for-granted sense of appreciation that comes from overcoming a journey of true hardship. She soon began on her illustrious path towards professional achievement.
I spoke with Sen. Hirono about why I wrote Guardians of the Dream and how I felt it was important for America’s leaders, most especially its immigrant leaders, to model and reaffirm for our young people the continued greatness of America as the land of opportunity. America is rooted as a nation of immigrants and the invitation posed to its aspiring newcomers distinguishes it as exceptional. Immigration has historically been the spring feeding our role as a global leader of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Senator and I discussed immigration reform, a complex policy area fraught with political discord, and found we were in agreement that despite party differences both sides of the aisle need to come together to develop effective solutions. Sen. Hirono has worked very diligently on comprehensive immigration reform, attaching 11 amendments to the bipartisan bill which passed the Senate last year. Without House support, immigration reform has since stalled.
People often ask me what I think about the current immigration debate. I share the view that Thomas Friedman expressed in an op-ed column entitled “America’s Real Dream Team.” He wrote, “I think keeping a constant flow of legal immigrants in our country—whether they wear blue collars or lab coats—is the key to keeping us ahead. Because when you mix all of these energetic, high-aspiring people with a democratic system and free markets, magic happens. If we hope to keep that magic, we need immigration reform that guarantees that we will always attract and retain, in an orderly fashion, the world’s first-round aspirational and intellectual draft choices.”
Today, our colleges and universities are bursting with talented students from countries all over the world. They’re taking advantage of our fine education system to advance their own dreams and prospects. What a shame if all that talent leaves America at the end of the school term. Instead, we should welcome them to stay here and build America.
