The Importance of Immigration

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In 2013, the George W. Bush Institute honored immigrants’ heritage. They emphasized that immigration creates instant adults, bringing with them an obligation to contribute to the social security system. However, immigrants also contribute to the nation’s economy by boosting its GDP and boosting the incomes of its native citizens. This economic stimulus is fueled by the influx of immigrants in industries with relative shortages of workers. In addition, immigrants contribute to the development of American science and technology.

According to the census, there were 29 million immigrants living in the United States in 2017. That number represents one fifth of the entire U.S. population. Of these, 21.2 million were lawful immigrants. The remaining 7.6 million are unauthorized, with their share of the civilian labor force being only four percent. The figure has increased over the years. Although the numbers may seem high, they are not the entire picture. For example, in 2007, nearly eight million people arrived in the United States who were born in a foreign country, but were not U.S. citizens.

The American Immigration Council estimates that immigrants contribute hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy every year. The most recent American Community Survey (PUMS) data shows that undocumented immigrants accounted for five percent of the workforce in 2017. Additionally, immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes to the U.S. government. In the year of 2019, immigrant-led households paid $330.7 billion in federal taxes and over $161.7 billion in state and local taxes.

Immigration is crucial for the United States. Immigrants have long contributed to the nation’s growth and prosperity. Nearly 14 percent of Americans are foreign-born. Over half of them have become naturalized citizens. Immigrants also speak English well, and seventy percent of immigrants report speaking it well. And this trend continues as more immigrants come to the U.S. to pursue their dreams. If you want to be a part of this great American nation, consider becoming an immigrant.

Immigration statistics show that Mexico is the largest source of new immigrants. In 2018, it was the country of origin of 11.2 million immigrants. Other countries, such as China, India, the Philippines, and El Salvador, accounted for the next largest number of newcomers. Asian immigrants make up nearly one-third of all immigrants, almost equal to the share of Mexicans. Other regions have smaller numbers, with sub-Saharan Africa, Middle Eastern countries, and North America making up only five percent of newcomers.

Immigration laws restrict immigrant rights in some ways. For example, California voters passed Proposition 187 in 1996, which restricted the access of illegal immigrants to essential services. Further, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 took away Supplemental Security Income and many other federal benefits. It may be hard to believe that so many people are still denied the benefits they are entitled to. The immigration laws of the Trump administration have further exacerbated this problem.