George W. Bush: Immigration Reform Needed To Boost Economy

By Elise Foley, Huffington Post Latino Voices

WASHINGTON — Former President George W. Bush stressed the importance of immigration on Tuesday at a speech in Dallas, throwing himself back in the ring as the debate over reform heats up in Washington.

“Immigrants come with new skills and new ideas. They fill a critical part in our labor market. They work hard for a better life,” Bush said at the event, hosted by the George W. Bush Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

His brief speech introduced the groups’ conference, which focused on the need for immigration reform to bolster economic growth.

“Not only do immigrants help build our economy, they help invigorate our soul,” he said later in the speech.

Bush pushed during his second term for comprehensive immigration reform, with the help of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the…

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This article was first published in Huffington Post Latino Voices.

Elise Foley is a reporter for the Huffington Post in Washington, D.C. She previously worked at The Washington Independent.