Imagine America If Steve Jobs’ Father Was Turned Away Because He Was Syrian

Immigration is interconnected with US values, innovation and prosperity. Some US presidential candidates propose denying entry to refugees fleeing civil war and terrorism in Syria. One candidate went so far as to propose a sweeping, unworkable and unconstitutional ban on Muslims entering the United States. In an opinion essay for the Seattle Times, venture capitalist Nick Hanauer argues that US inclusion and diversity contribute to innovation, which leads to technological solutions to problems and consumer demand. “The more cognitive diversity we have – the more people simultaneously approaching the same problem from as many different backgrounds and perspectives as possible – the greater the rate of innovation,” he writes. “It’s not how hard you try; it’s how many different ways you try to solve a problem that leads to success.” He points out that the father of Apple’s founder Steve Jobs was a Muslim and Syrian immigrant, and that proposed bans show a fundamental misunderstanding of US economic force. Hanauer concludes, “Every potential American citizen we scare away with our fear-mongering weakens our potential for growth.” – YaleGlobal