Immigration opportunity

Ever since Arizona passed a harsh law last year designed to crack down on illegal immigrants, other states have rushed to follow. Many of these laws are tied up in litigation over whether they are constitutional, since immigration policy usually is viewed as the responsibility of the federal government.

Still, some politicians and others in Michigan and Ohio would like to see similar anti-immigrant measures enacted here. Doing so would be a dreadful mistake, not only on the grounds of fairness, but also from the standpoint of economic development and job growth.

A considerable body of new research indicates that immigrants are not job snatchers, but job creators. Steve Tobocman, a former Michigan state lawmaker, has contributed to the research. He heads the Global Detroit Initiative, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to boosting the Detroit area's economy by attracting immigrants.

A new study by the initiative concludes that immigrants are far more likely to have a college degree than non-immigrants, are far more likely to start a business (especially a high-tech business), and are far more likely to create jobs, including jobs for longtime citizens.

In Detroit, which has suffered the most devastating population loss of any U.S. city, the mostly African-American residents have often resisted calls for more immigration, out of fear immigrants would take jobs from poor black workers. The reality seems to be the opposite.

Atlanta's population includes six times as many immigrants as does Cleveland's. Yet the African-American unemployment rate in the Ohio city is nearly double Atlanta's rate.

Mr. Tobocman is a liberal Democrat. But on the immigration issue, he sees eye to eye with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, a pro-business Republican, who calls attracting skilled, industrious immigrants "the key to our success in the future."

Special visas are designed to smooth the way for immigrants who come here to invest money and create jobs. That program should be expanded. Toledo, as well as Detroit, would benefit from an influx of entrepreneurial newcomers.

America has benefited from the hard work and innovative skills of immigrants for centuries. If you want to see one of their modern-day descendants, look in the mirror.