Politicians and pundits routinely call the US immigration system "broken." Generally conflating legal and illegal immigration, critics argue that the system lets in too many people who will burden America economically, foster crime and dilute the national culture. But Hoover Institution economist Tim Kane argues that immigrants are and have been a central pillar of America's power, providing "brains, brawn and bravery" that have helped the United States excel in every field. In this well-argued rebuttal to isolationism - and knowing the subject is controversial - Kane calls for smart immigration reform that balances compassion with national self-interest.