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Immigration

Explore key myths and facts about immigration in the U.S., covering topics such as population statistics, legality, language acquisition, crime rates, job impact, tax contributions, legal entry challenges, terrorism arrests, and citizenship status of immigrant children. Discover the realities behind common misconceptions regarding immigrants.

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Immigration

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  1. MYTHS VS. FACTS Immigration

  2. IMMIGRANTS persons with no U.S. citizenship at birth …includes naturalized citizens lawful permanent residents refugees persons on temporary visas unauthorized (undocumented or illegal)

  3. 1. There are more immigrants living in the U.S. today than ever before. • FACT, but… • percentage of immigrants in the overall population is not much different now than in the past • U.S. population 323 million

  4. 1. There are more immigrants living in the U.S. today than ever before. • FACT • Now: 43.7 million or about 14%of the total U.S. population • Then: 11-13% of total U.S. population from 1900-1930 • 2012-13 the immigrant population increased by 1.3% or523,000

  5. 1. There are more immigrants living in the U.S. today than ever before. • FACT • 11.5 million undocumented immigrants make up less than 4% of total U.S. population • 86.4 million people, or 27% of the overall U.S. population are made up of immigrants and their U.S. born children • In 2016, 1.49 million foreign-born individuals moved to the U.S., a 7% increase from 1.28 million in 2015

  6. 2. Most immigrants are in the U.S. illegally. • MYTH • Over 40 million total immigrants • 28+ million with legal status • 47% have become U.S. citizens • 11.5 million undocumented • ½ entered legally and became undocumented when papers expired and they didn’t leave • emphasis of time, money, laws, etc… for less than 4%

  7. 3. Anyone who enters the country illegally is a criminal. • MYTH or FACT (depending?) • only very serious misbehavior is generally considered “criminal” in our legal system • improper entry is a misdemeanor • punishment is imprisonment and a fine • violations of less serious laws are usually “civil” matters and are tried in civil courts • Federal immigration law says that unlawful presence in the country is a civil offense and is, therefore, not a crime • punishment is deportation

  8. 4. Immigrants come to the U.S. and resist learning English. • MYTH • When the U.S. entered WWI (1917) there were over 700 German-language newspapers, but German immigration peaked in the 1870s • 2/3 of immigrants 5 or older speak English “well” or “very well” • After 15 years in the U.S. 75% of Spanish-speaking immigrants speak English regularly • 91% of their children and 97% of their grandchildren can speak English well • Waiting lists for adult ESL instruction in the U.S. exceed availability

  9. 5. Immigrants bring crime and violence to our cities and towns. • MYTH • Immigrants are far less likely than native-born citizens to commit crimes • even with low income and lower levels of education • people aged 18-54 incarcerated • 1.53 percent of natives • 0.85 percent of undocumented immigrants • 0.47 percent of documented immigrants • more U.S. born high school dropouts in prison than immigrant drop outs

  10. 6. Immigrants take good jobs from Americans. • MYTH • jobs immigrants fill are usually low-skilland low-wage • states with large numbers of immigrants report lower unemployment for everyone • Immigrants help create new jobs • 18% of small business, which provide up to 80% of the new jobs in the U.S., are started by immigrants

  11. 7. Undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes and take advantage of government services. • MYTH • Immigrants pay $90 - $140 billion each year in taxes • income tax; sales tax; property tax; gas tax • that is $20-$30 billion MORE than the amount they cost in government services • most non-citizens are not eligible for the majority of welfare programs • even if eligible, they are much less likely than citizens to use the benefits • highest government expense is education

  12. 8. There’s a way to enter the country legally for anyone who wants to get in line. • MYTH • very difficult for poor people with few skills • rules to enter country legally • joining family • highly trained skill in demand • escaping persecution • long delays • applications can take several years to process • 2007 Homeland Security received 1.4 million applications

  13. 9. Tougher immigration laws have led to more arrests of terrorists in the U.S. • Laws after 9/11 • “Special Registration” & thousandsheld without any proof • a study of 400 terrorists showed only 6% entered a country illegally • all 9/11 hijackers entered the U.S. legally • not a single terrorist has been caught crossing the U.S. / Mexico border (2,000 miles) • increased risks of border crossing results in more immigrants staying in the U.S. for longer times • President Obama has most deportations (414,818 in 2014)

  14. 10. Most children of undocumented immigrants are living legally in the U.S. • FACT • Two-thirds of all children with undocumented parents are U.S. born citizens who live in mixed-status families “anchor babies” 2013 = 295,000 “birth tourists” 36,000 a year

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