The United States is a nation of immigrants. More than a quarter of all Americans are born abroad. The U.S. has a population of about 115 million people. About a fifth of them were born abroad. Although immigration is a huge issue in the United States, there are many benefits of having immigrants in your community. These benefits include access to good jobs, cultural diversity, and increased economic stability. However, there are many misconceptions about immigrants.
The word “immigrant” connotes a person who is an alien, but the word does not convey this connotation. Instead, it implies that the person observed legal requirements before crossing the border. This connotation is unwelcome for some people who would rather use a modifier to indicate the status of a person. Those who dislike the term “illegal” also avoid the word altogether. For example, immigrants in America are categorized as non-citizens, but it is more common to refer to them as aliens.
As a result of geographic mobility, immigrants are an important contributor to the U.S. economy. They work at high rates, and in some fields, make up over a third of the workforce. They smooth out any rough patches and boost local economies. Furthermore, immigrants provide the labor force needed to support an aging native-born population and help bolster the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. Lastly, immigrants and their children have the potential to become economically independent and are often upwardly mobile.
The experience of immigrants is unique, and some are born here and stay in their new country permanently, while others are considered immigrants and non-immigrants. In the U.S., immigrants are the “first generation” of their new country, while non-immigrants are only there for a short period of time, like a business trip, seasonal work, or a year as a student. There are different legal statuses for migrants, and these differences may be based on the purpose of their migration.
Immigrants contribute to the economy in many ways. For one, they work. In some industries, immigrants account for a third of the workforce. This geographic mobility is important for many reasons. It helps local economies respond to labor shortages and smoothes out bumps in the economy. In addition, immigrants also benefit the native-born population. They are often the first generation born in a country, and are born in a foreign country.
Immigrants are not only a valuable part of the country, they are vital to its future. They help to bolster the national birth rate. For decades, the native-born birth rate has been at historically low levels. A low birth rate can reduce the labor force, lower home prices, and slow the economy. By increasing the number of immigrants, the U.S. will experience a more stable economy. In fact, a country’s birth rate will depend on immigrants.