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American Immigration Lawyers Association
Myth Number 1: Immigrants take
jobs away from Americans.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Studies have shown that
quite the opposite is true: Immigrants create jobs. Specifically various
recent studies have shown that:
 | Immigrants are more likely to be self-employed and start new
businesses. Small businesses, 18 percent of which are started by
immigrants, account for up to 80 percent of the new jobs available
in the United States each year. |
| Slightly more than 10 percent of the U.S. industrial workforce, or
roughly 2.2 million Americans, are employed by foreign companies
doing business in the United States. Additionally, the top 105
multinational corporations doing business here have U.S. affiliates
that are so large they would qualify for the Fortune 500 list solely
on the basis of their stateside operations. |
Myth Number 2: America is being
overrun by immigrants.
This, unfortunately, is another case where perception is out of sync
with reality. To be sure, the number of immigrants living in the United
States is larger than ever before, but these numbers are relatively
small as a percentage of the population. More importantly, the
percentage of immigrants in the total population has decreased. So far,
no single decade has topped 1901-1910 for immigration admissions.
Further, even though the United States has one of the world's most
generous refugee resettlement programs, less than 1.5 percent of the
world's refugee population finds its way to the United States.
Perhaps the misperception regarding numbers of immigrants rests in
the fact that in the 1980s, three-quarters of all immigrants entering
the United States settled in just six states: California, New York,
Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and Illinois. Also, the vast majority of
immigrants settle in urban areas. In 1990, 93 percent of foreign-born
Americans lived in metropolitan areas, compared with 73 percent of
native-born Americans.
Myth Number 3: Most immigrants are
a drain on the U.S. economy.
Once again, nothing could be further from the truth:
| Immigrants collectively earn $240 billion a year, pay $90 billion
a year in taxes, and receive $5 billion in welfare. |
| New immigrants must prove that they won't be a burden before they
are allowed to enter the United States. Compared to the native-born
population, immigrants are more likely to be employed, save more of
their earnings, and are more likely to start new businesses. |
| Immigrants have a slightly higher per capita income than natives
and a slightly lower household income. But, their income levels rise
over time: Among those entering before 1980, median household income
in 1989 was $35,733 (vs. $30,176 for natives) and per capita income
was $19,423 (vs. $14,367 for natives). |
| Non-refugee immigrants of working age are less prone to welfare
than natives. |
Myth Number 4: Immigrants aren't
really interested in becoming part of American society.
All evidence points to the contrary. Immigrants are very interested
in being part of our society. In fact, the grandparents and parents of
immigrant children have expressed some concern that their youngsters are
assimilating too quickly.
| Immigrants want to learn and speak English. Reports from
throughout the United States indicate that the demand for classes in
English as a second language far outstrips supply. After 15 years in
America, 75 percent of Spanish-speaking immigrants speak English on
a regular basis. The children of immigrants, although bilingual,
prefer English to their native tongue at astounding rates. |
| Immigrants and refugees intermarry outside their group at a rate
of 1 in 3. The rate is even higher, 1 out of 2, for their children. |
Myth Number 5: Immigrants
contribute little to American society.
Baloney. Besides their significant economic contributions, immigrants
continually have helped shape and mold the fabric of our society.
| Immigrants, for the most part, are firm believers in family unity.
They are more likely than natives to live in families: 76 percent
vs. 70 percent. They also tend to have more children: 2.25 vs 1.93.
Immigrants are more likely to be married: 60 percent vs. 55 percent.
Only 8 percent of immigrants are divorced or separated compared to
11 percent of natives. |
| Immigrants recognize the value of an education. While many lack a
high school education, they are just as likely as natives to hold a
college degree: 20 percent. That rate rose during the 1980s: Among
those admitted in 1987-1990, 29 percent held a college degree.
Immigrants are also twice as likely as natives to hold Ph.D.'s. |
| Immigrants respect the law as much, if not more, than native born
Americans. They are less likely than natives to be confined to a
state prison. Among the five states with the most
immigrants--California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas--only New
York has a greater share of immigrants in its prisons than in its
general population. |
So, who are these people we call immigrants? They could be your
parents, your grandparents, your teachers, your friends, your doctors,
your policemen, your grocer, your waiter, your cook, your babysitter,
your gardener, your lawyer, your favorite actor, actress, or sports
hero, your mayor, your congressman or senator, your shopkeeper.
Immigrants permeate the fabric of America. They are an integral and
important part of our society, its goals and its values. They are the
backbone that helps make this country great. They are what sets us apart
from every nation in this world. In short, they are us.
Immigration Packet
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