August 21, 2008 5:29PM 

# Our Convoluted, Less-than-open Immigration System 

By [Daniel Griswold](https://www.cato.org/people/daniel-griswold) 

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If you think the United States has an “open border” policy toward immigrants, check out this [immigration flowchart](http://reason.org/immigrationchart.pdf) put together by our friends over at the Reason Foundation.

In one graphic sweep, it explains better than mere words why we need comprehensive immigration reform.

Of course, if you are one of those people who like to read the articles and not just look at the pictures, you can check out Cato research on immigration at the [Center for Trade Policy Studies](http://www.freetrade.org/issues/immigration.html) web site.

##### Related Tags 

[General](https://www.cato.org/general), [Trade Policy](https://www.cato.org/trade-policy), [Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies](https://www.cato.org/herbert-stiefel-center-trade-policy-studies) 

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