Recently, a number of commentators have highlighted slowing population growth in the United States and the need for reducing immigration restrictions. An increase in the number of immigrants, along with the skills and relative youth that they bring, is critical to U.S. economic growth, innovation, sustainable finances, and global influence.

While the positive role played by immigrants in the U.S. economy is well-known, the role played by immigrants in entrepreneurship and innovation is particularly acute. Immigrants play an outsize role in patent development at universities, in new business formation, and in the establishment of Fortune 500 firms. As a result, there is broad support on the Left and the Right for a startup visa in the U.S. This startup visa would enable many more talented immigrant entrepreneurs to start businesses in the U.S. without the need to demonstrate “extraordinary ability” or to make a substantial investment in a U.S. business.