I am the proud son of immigrants from Bangladesh.

I was raised in New York City, which has benefited enormously from the energy and ambition

of the millions of people born abroad who've chosen to make it their home.

But I also believe that America's immigration system needs to work for America,

and right now that is simply not the case. We need a new immigration system.

So what should it be? We're often presented with two stark choices.

Severe restrictions or open borders. I think there's a better way.

But before I offer a solution, let's look at the usual suspects.

The case for open borders is on the surface pretty attractive.

Tens of millions of people around the world would be grateful to come to America for the chance

to live in peace and earn a decent living. The vast majority of them mean us no harm.

Why not give them a chance to share in the blessings of liberty?

The simple answer is that our country is more than just a marketplace.

We're a democracy based on a social contract.

Americans pay taxes so that, among other things, the poorest, most unlucky among us

can still lead decent and dignified lives.

If you can't work, you might be eligible for unemployment benefits or disability.

If you do work, but your paycheck doesn't go far enough for you to afford medical care or food

for your kids, we have a safety net designed to help you stay afloat.

Liberals and conservatives disagree on how extensive this safety net ought to be,

but they all agree it needs to be there. The question is, how far are we willing to stretch it?

A century ago, immigrants who found they couldn't make it in America had little choice

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