PHOTO: ANDY DELGIUDICEI
am a scientist. I am an American. And I am the
product of special expert visas and chain migra-
tion—among the many types of legal immigration
into the United States. On 22 June, President Trump
issued a proclamation that temporarily restricts
many types of legal immigration into the coun-
try, including that of scientists and students. This
will make America neither greater nor safer—rather, it
could make America less so.
The administration claims that these restrictions are
necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
outbreak to prevent threats to American workers. This
reasoning is flawed for science and engineering, where
immigrants are critical to achiev-
ing advances and harnessing the
resulting economic opportunity for
all Americans.
For decades, the United States has
inspired both immigrants and non-
immigrants to make substantial con-
tributions to science and technology
that benefit everyone. Preventing
highly skilled scientists and postdocs
from entering the United States di-
rectly threatens this enterprise.
My uncle, a geologist, came to the
United States in the 1960s to work
at NASA. He then taught at Ap-
palachian State University in North Carolina and later
served as lead geochemist for the state of California. He
sponsored my father to come to America in 1968. Leav-
ing Mumbai, a city of millions, and arriving in Hickory,
a town of thousands in North Carolina, my father came
home to a place he had never been before. My parents
worked in furniture factories and textile mills to put us
though college and ensure we had opportunities. Today,
my sister works at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, and I have the privilege of leading the
American Association for the Advancement of Science
(AAAS, the publisher of Science). We exist because of the
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and our parents’
belief in the vision of the United States as a shining city
on a hill. My family’s story is repeated by thousands of
American scientists.
These stories include uncertainty when an immigrant’s
status in America is in question. This uncertainty causes
stress and the possibility that immigrants will leave and
take their skills, talents, and humanity elsewhere. For the
successful, these stories culminate with relief, celebration,
and the pride of becoming a naturalized citizen. As Presi-
dent Reagan said, the United States is the one place inthe world where “anybody from any corner of the world
can come...to live and become an American.” Naturalized
citizens love the United States deeply because they chose
to be American. They and other immigrants make huge
contributions to science and engineering.
According to the National Science Foundation, more
than 50% of postdocs and 28% of science and engineering
faculty in the United States are immigrants. Of the Nobel
Prizes in chemistry, medicine, and physics awarded to
Americans since 2000, 38% were awarded to immigrants
to the United States. I don’t know the number of prizes
given to second-generation Americans but Steven Chu—
current chair of the AAAS Board of Directors—is among
them. The incredible achievements
of the American scientific enterprise
speak volumes about the vision and
forethought of the American people
who have worked to create a more
perfect union.
Suspending legal immigration is
self-defeating and breaks a model
that is so successful that other na-
tions are copying it. As Thomas
Donohue, chief executive officer
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
said regarding the administration’s
proclamation, “Putting up a ‘not wel-
come’ sign for engineers, executives,
IT experts, doctors, nurses, and other workers won’t help
our country, it will hold us back. Restrictive changes to
our nation’s immigration system will push investment
and economic activity abroad, slow growth, and reduce
job creation.”
To develop treatments and vaccines for COVID-19,
cure cancers, go to Mars, understand the fundamental
laws of the universe and human behavior, develop arti-
ficial intelligence, and build a better future, we need the
brain power of the descendants of Native Americans,
Pilgrims, Founding Mothers and Fathers, Enslaved
People, Ellis Island arrivals, and immigrants from ev-
erywhere. The United States has thrived as a crossroads
where people are joined together by ideas and contrib-
ute by choice to the freedom and opportunity provided
by this wonderful, inspiring, and flawed country that is
always striving to live up to its aspirations.
Scientists, look around your labs and offices. Think
about your collaborations and friendships. We must en-
sure that this “temporary” restriction on legal immigra-
tion does not become permanent. Now is the time to
speak up for your immigrant colleagues and for America.
–Sudip Parikh10.1126/science.abdImmigrants help make America great
“...immigrants
make huge
contributions
to science
and engineering.”
Sudip Parikh
is the chief
executive officer
of the American
Association for the
Advancement of
Science (AAAS) and
executive publisher of
the Science journals.
[email protected]
EDITORIAL
120 10 JULY 2020 • VOL 369 ISSUE 6500 sciencemag.org SCIENCE