The power of immigration

We must embrace the future as we remember the past

Lori Ann Reinhall

President, Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association

The crew of the Restauration prepares for its sailway from Stavanger to New York in commemoration of 200 years of organized Norwegian emigration to the United States. / Photo: Lori Ann Reinhall

With the commemoration of 200 years of organized Norwegian immigration this year, our thoughts are not only on the past but also on the present and future. Many of us find ourselves asking the question of what immigration means to us as a community and as a nation.

The sailaway of the replica ship Restauration from Stavanger on July 4, 2025, was a monumental event for both Norwegians and Norwegian Americans, as will be its arrival in New York City on Oct. 9 this fall. The voyage embodies the destinies of immigrants everywhere throughout time. It embodies the hopes and aspirations of those brave enough to leave their homes in the hope of finding a better life in a new land — not a trivial message in today’s world.

The topic of immigration is now at the forefront of public debate in the United States, with a movement to both reform and restrict migration into our country. The question arises as to what it means to be an immigrant as opposed to an undocumented illegal alien, and where do our responsibilities as a nation lie?

Former President George W. Bush once said, “At its core, immigration is a sign of a confident and successful nation. Immigrants’ talent and hard work and love of freedom have helped us become the leader of the world.” To this day, Bush sees immigration as both “a blessing and a strength.”

But the former president also understood that we are a law-abiding nation and that comprehensive reform was needed. His vision to overhaul immigration, while never fully enacted by Congress, became a cornerstone of his administration’s policy. 

The proposed reforms of this time still carry validity today:

●      Our borders must be secured through investment and innovation.

●      A modernized guest-worker program is needed to fill jobs for a healthy economy.

●      U.S. employers must be better monitored for adherence to legal hiring practices.

●      A fair process needs to be put in place to bring undocumented workers “out of the shadows” and into the system.

●      The “Dreamers,” children brought by illegal aliens to the United States and who have lived most of their lives here, must be offered a path to citizenship.

●      The longstanding tradition of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to the United States must be upheld.

●      The United States must also continue to support displaced peoples worldwide.

In 2021, Bush published his book Out of Many, One, a collection of his portraits and stories of immigrants from different countries. The title plays on the motto of the United States, “E pluribus unum,” signifying the unification of multiple entities into a single entity to work for the common good of the nation.

With this book, the former president said his goal was to tell the stories of individual immigrants and humanize the debate, to bring the aspirations and accomplishments of the immigrants to life. In much the same way, this is what the reenactors of the voyage of the Restauration, have done on their journey. It is a tale of courage and resolution.

From the many stories we know as Norwegian Americans, including those of our own forebears, we understand this story of immigration to be true. We can be proud of those who came before us, the struggles they overcame, all that they built up, and what the Norwegian-American community continues to create today.

In this year of commemoration of 200 years of Norwegian immigration, we must embrace the future as we remember the past. May we never give up on our dreams, never give up on our beliefs, never lose sight of our vision and imagination. Let us now take hold of the power of immigration, as we open our hearts and minds to new people and generations to build a better future together. With the commemoration of 200 years of organized Norwegian immigration this year, our thoughts are not only on the past but also on the present and future. Many of us find ourselves asking the question of what immigration means to us as a community and as a nation.

The sailaway of the replica ship Restauration from Stavanger on July 4, 2025, was a monumental event for both Norwegians and Norwegian Americans, as will be its arrival in New York City on Oct. 9 this fall. The voyage embodies the destinies of immigrants everywhere throughout time. It embodies the hopes and aspirations of those brave enough to leave their homes in the hope of finding a better life in a new land — not a trivial message in today’s world.

The topic of immigration is now at the forefront of public debate in the United States, with a movement to both reform and restrict migration into our country. The question arises as to what it means to be an immigrant as opposed to an undocumented illegal alien, and where do our responsibilities as a nation lie?

Former President George W. Bush once said, “At its core, immigration is a sign of a confident and successful nation. Immigrants’ talent and hard work and love of freedom have helped us become the leader of the world.” To this day, Bush sees immigration as both “a blessing and a strength.”

But the former president also understood that we are a law-abiding nation and that comprehensive reform was needed. His vision to overhaul immigration, while never fully enacted by Congress, became a cornerstone of his administration’s policy. 

The proposed reforms of this time still carry validity today:

●      Our borders must be secured through investment and innovation.

●      A modernized guest-worker program is needed to fill jobs for a healthy economy.

●      U.S. employers must be better monitored for adherence to legal hiring practices.

●      A fair process needs to be put in place to bring undocumented workers “out of the shadows” and into the system.

●      The “Dreamers,” children brought by illegal aliens to the United States and who have lived most of their lives here, must be offered a path to citizenship.

●      The longstanding tradition of welcoming refugees and asylum seekers to the United States must be upheld.

●      The United States must also continue to support displaced peoples worldwide.

In 2021, Bush published his book Out of Many, One, a collection of his portraits and stories of immigrants from different countries. The title plays on the motto of the United States, “E pluribus unum,” signifying the unification of multiple entities into a single entity to work for the common good of the nation.

With this book, the former president said his goal was to tell the stories of individual immigrants and humanize the debate, to bring the aspirations and accomplishments of the immigrants to life. In much the same way, this is what the reenactors of the voyage of the Restauration, have done on their journey. It is a tale of courage and resolution.

From the many stories we know as Norwegian Americans, including those of our own forebears, we understand this story of immigration to be true. We can be proud of those who came before us, the struggles they overcame, all that they built up, and what the Norwegian-American community continues to create today.

In this year of commemoration of 200 years of Norwegian immigration, we must embrace the future as we remember the past. May we never give up on our dreams, never give up on our beliefs, never lose sight of our vision and imagination. Let us now take hold of the power of immigration, as we open our hearts and minds to new people and generations to build a better future together.