Sen. Kaine: Immigration Is ‘Like Transfusion Of Fresh Blood Into The Bloodstream’

(CNSNews.com) – Sen. Tim Kaine (D.-Va.) today compared immigration to a blood transfusion for the country.

“What immigration has done for Virginia is what it’s done for the nation since its very first days,” Kaine said. “It’s been like the transfusion of fresh blood into the bloodstream that has continued to revitalize us and make us stronger.”

Kaine said that since the Supreme Court’s decision not to uphold President Barack Obama’s executive action giving the parents of children born in the United States, or those of aliens given temporary protection from deportation by a separate executive action, meant that people are living in fear.

Noting that, when he was born in 1958, one in 100 Virginians were foreign-born and that number today is one in nine, Kaine praised immigrants for helping to improve the state’s economy and adding talented people to the population.

“Why is that the case that an increasing number of foreign-born Virginians has combined with an improving economy?” Kaine said. “It’s the case for two reasons: In today’s economy success is about talent.”

“And talent comes in all skin colors, all national origins, irregardless of gender, irregardless of religion, irregardless of sexual orientation--you want talent,” he said.

“And what immigration has done for Virginia is what it’s done for the nation since it’s very first days,” he said. “It’s been like the transfusion of fresh blood into the bloodstream that has continued to revitalize us and make us stronger.”

“Just as education is about growing talent, immigration is about growing talent,” Kaine said.

He added that the second reason is because the United States is part of a global economy.