Size does not necessarily equate to power, just take a look at the tiny nation of Israel, which has turned itself into an economic power, or India, which is the world’s second-biggest in terms of population with 1.3 billion people, struggling to grow its economy and exert influence on par with its rival China. The Trump administration, which touted its commitment to stopping illegal immigration, also cut legal immigration, sending the you’re not welcome here signal to the rest of the world.

Even enemy states, such as Iran and Russia, are loaded with educated and professionally skilled citizens who would make a mad dash to become Americans, if not for impediments in their countries and ours. Sadly, there are millions of Americans who fear a future where immigrants continue streaming to the United States to start a new life. institutions of higher learning, including 20 percent of African leaders, a continent many economists and investment professionals consider ripe for investment, with its young population and rich array of natural resources.

Our universities educate people from around the planet and the leaders of many countries have been educated at U.S. Another study concluded one-quarter of new businesses are founded by immigrants. Witness the recent study by the National Foundation for American Policy that found 55 percent, or 50 of 91, of the country’s $1 billion startup companies, had at least one immigrant founder. That is among the most powerful elements of so-called soft power that makes the United States influential beyond all other nations, and what has attracted the world’s brightest and most ambitious minds to our country, people who played huge roles in building American industry, not the least of which is the formation and innovations of Silicon Valley. One could argue it’s the millions of people the world over who want to emigrate here. Think about what makes the United States truly powerful.

One billion americans