Less Heat, More Light

Prepared from several sources including the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Immigration Lawyers Association

1. A deportation-only policy will fix our immigration problems.

Fact: There are an estimated 11 – 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US. Most entered the US legally and then overstayed their visas. Each is entitled to a hearing before an immigration judge at an estimated cost of $230 billion. The US Chamber of Commerce also reported that “immigrants will replenish the U S labor force as Baby Boomers retire” and because the US has a low birth rate that would result in a shortage of 2.5 million workers.

2. Immigrant workers depress American wages.

Fact: Most economists agree that immigrants actually increase wages. The White House Council of Economic Advisers in 2007, during the Bush Administration, reported that 90% of native born workers experience wage gains due to immigration. The US Chamber of Commerce also reported in 2011 that “immigrants typically do not compete for jobs of native-born workers and immigrants create jobs as entrepreneurs, consumers and taxpayers.” Almost 91% of all jobs are filled by U S Citizens.

3. The US spends billions on welfare for undocumented immigrants.

Fact: Undocumented immigrants are NOT entitled to welfare. Like everyone else, a person requires 40 quarters of wages (10 years) paid into the Social Security system before qualifying for Social Security and Medicare benefits.

4. Immigrants are more likely to commit crimes than US citizens.

Fact: A study published by the University of California, Irvine, found that among men aged 18-39 the incarceration rate of native born citizens was 5 times higher than for immigrants. And the conservative think tank, Americas Majority Foundation found that crime rates are lowest in those states with the highest immigrant population!

5. Immigrants do not assimilate into US society.

Fact: According to a 400 page report issued by the non-political National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, requested by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation, as reported in the NY Times on Sept 21, 2015, reported that foreign born and their US born children are learning English faster than in past generations, and are a significant number of those buying houses at a rapid rate.

6. Most immigrants are poorly educated.

Fact: According to a Pew Research Center report published last month, “Immigrants overall were more likely to have a college degree, but less likely to have a high school diploma,” however this varied by ethnic group.

7. Undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes.

Fact: Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes each year, often for benefits they will never receive. For example the Social Security Trust Fund has $836 billion deposited by individuals for whom there is no match for names and SS numbers.

8. Add your favorite here:____________________________________