What’s America’s superpower? Immigration, says Global Refuge’s Krish O’Mara Vignarajah

What’s the superpower behind a global superpower?

Global Refuge President & CEO Krish O’Mara Vignarajah recently took the stage at TEDxApex Women in Apex, North Carolina to make the case that the United States owes its preeminence on the global stage to one key asset: immigration.

Thumbnail for a video entitled 'What is America’s Superpower | Krish Vignarajah | TEDxApexWomen'

Though our divisive political environment has demonized immigrants through dangerous, hateful rhetoric, she argues, the hard work, determination, and creativity of our immigrant population has helped us through the hardest times in our nation’s history and helped facilitate some of the best.

“While we –– like other nations –– have the drive, the grit, the spirit from those born in our country to innovate, grow, and achieve great things, we also have another gift,” she says. “It’s something no other nation has on the scale that we do, a superpower, unique to our nation’s DNA and central to the notion of the American Dream. Our superpower as a Superpower is immigration.”

O’Mara Vignarajah joined women from across industries and backgrounds to explore the topic of X on DATE. Her complete TEDx talk was released on October 30, 2024 and is available on YouTube.

In the talk, O’Mara Vignarajah shares her own immigration story and speaks to the potential immigrants have to continue to transform the United States for the better.

“America has an aging population and the lowest birth rate since the census started tracking it,” she shares. “We have a federal debt north of $35 trillion. And we face a climate crisis that is estimated to cost us tens of trillions of dollars per year in the next couple of decades.

We need every tool in our toolkit to combat those challenges. That means we need our superpower.”

Watch the talk here and share it on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

The Latest

Press Release · Refugee Resettlement

November 6, 2024

Global Refuge Reaffirms Commitment to Refugees and Immigrants as Nation Prepares for New Administration

In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, Global Refuge remains steadfast in its mission to serve vulnerable immigrant and refugee communities across the United States.
Read More
Advocacy · Immigration and Asylum

October 23, 2024

What is the CHNV Parole Program?

The Biden administration opened a new program allowing certain nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to apply for entry to the U.S. for a temporary stay of up to two years.
Read More
Advocacy

October 17, 2024

Six Migration and Climate Displacement Takeaways from Climate Week NYC

The Global Refuge Advocacy team attended the 2024 Climate Week NYC—a massive gathering of practitioners from public policy, philanthropy, the private sector, science, and other disciplines focused on the climate crisis.
Read More
Press Release · Refugee Resettlement

September 30, 2024

U.S. Resettles Most Refugees in Three Decades, Maintains FY 2025 Refugee Cap at 125,000

The White House announced today that President Biden has officially signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Presidential Determination on refugee admissions, maintaining the annual cap at 125,000 refugees.
Read More
News

September 26, 2024

How to Talk to Your Kids About Immigration

Learn how to talk to your kids about immigration from Global Refuge.
Read More

Ana Rosa and Her Family: Seeking Hope

Who We Are Overview

What We Do Overview

Get Involved Overview

Olesia and Kira's Story: Our Whole Life Packed Up

What’s America’s superpower? Immigration, says Global Refuge’s Krish O’Mara Vignarajah

The Latest

Global Refuge Reaffirms Commitment to Refugees and Immigrants as Nation Prepares for New Administration

What is the CHNV Parole Program?

Six Migration and Climate Displacement Takeaways from Climate Week NYC

U.S. Resettles Most Refugees in Three Decades, Maintains FY 2025 Refugee Cap at 125,000

How to Talk to Your Kids About Immigration

Stand with refugees.

The Latest

Global Refuge Reaffirms Commitment to Refugees and Immigrants as Nation Prepares for New Administration

What is the CHNV Parole Program?

Six Migration and Climate Displacement Takeaways from Climate Week NYC

U.S. Resettles Most Refugees in Three Decades, Maintains FY 2025 Refugee Cap at 125,000

How to Talk to Your Kids About Immigration

Related Posts

How to Talk to Your Kids About Immigration

Supporting Empowerment: A Donor’s Story

Global Refuge on WYPR: Combatting Misinformation about Immigrants

Share