Bush tells Republicans to accept immigrants

Looking for new footing on immigration before a debate on the volatile issue in Congress next year, Republicans and conservative leaders spoke out this week, raising arguments that immigration is good for the ailing economy and consistent with family values.

Looking for new footing on immigration before a debate on the volatile issue in Congress next year, Republicans and conservative leaders spoke out this week, raising arguments that immigration is good for the ailing economy and consistent with family values.

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Former President George W Bush weighed back in to the discussion on Tuesday by calling on policymakers to revamp the law “with a benevolent spirit” that recognised the contribution of those who moved here from other countries.

Bush spoke at the opening of a conference highlighting the benefits of immigration hosted by an institute in Dallas that bears his name and by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. He described immigrants as a bedrock of the nation’s economy, providing new skills and ideas while filling critical gaps in the labor market.

His tone contrasted sharply with the prevailing views and language of Republicans during the presidential campaign, when Mitt Romney said he favoured policies that would force illegal immigrants to “self-deport.”