Fusion
By Danielle Weiner-Bronner
October 5, 2015
Former
Secretary of State Colin Powell has a challenge for GOP hopeful Donald
Trump: Try running hotels without immigrant workers.
Speaking
with president and CEO of The Aspen Institute Walter Isaacson as part
of the Washington Ideas Forum, co-hosted by the Institute and the
Atlantic, Powell shared
his views on immigration. “I think the American people have to
understand we’re an immigrant nation,” he said, adding, “it is our
history, it is our tradition… we have been built on the backs of
immigrants.”
The conversation turns to immigration soon after the 16:30 mark.
He
added that candidates like Trump, who says he has a plan to
significantly curb immigration into the U.S., should think through what
that would mean for American business.
Powell said: “If I was around Mr. Trump, Donald, who I know rather
well, I would say you know Don, let’s see what happens. Let’s tell all
the immigrants working in Trump hotels to stay home tomorrow. See what
happens.”
Powell’s
comments, on legal immigration, may also refer to Trump’s notoriously
harsh stance on undocumented immigrants—despite reports that he may
employ them.
Powell
added that audience members, who responded to the statement with
applause, might also want to consider the positive impact of immigrant
workers:
Are
you kidding me? When these folks leave here to go to lunch, look who’s
serving you. Guess who’s cooking in the back. Next time you walk through
Dulles or Reagan, look
who’s manning the counters. Look who’s cleaning the place up. These are
first generation American immigrants who will raise children who will
go up to higher things.
Well said.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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