Immigrant myhts

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 jobsImmigrants 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.

Myth Number 2: America is being overrun by immigrants.

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 the percentage of immigrants in the total population has decreasedless than 1.5 percent of the world's refugee population finds its way to the United States. 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.

Myth Number 3: Most immigrants are a drain on the U.S. economy.

Immigrants collectively earn $240 billion a year, pay $90 billion a year in taxes, and receive $5 billion in welfare. 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.

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 societyImmigrants want to learn and speak EnglishReports 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.

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 educationImmigrants 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.

Legal immigration to the United States totals approximately 800,000 per year.