The immigration debate is expected to play a significant role in the 2024 election, as the issue continues to shape the political landscape. As voters head to the polls, it’s important to separate fact from fiction in this ongoing controversy. While immigration is often associated with crime and economic decline, there is no clear evidence supporting these claims.
Throughout the election cycle, rhetoric around “migrant crime” has fueled fear and misinformation. For instance, false claims have circulated, such as accusations that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, eat their neighbors’ pets and the exaggerated idea that thousands of migrant murderers are at large. However, research paints a different picture. A 2020 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans. Additionally, a 2021 report from the CATO Institute revealed that migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border were linked to just 0.009% of fentanyl-related arrests. The FBI also reported a decrease in violent crime rates, with murders and rapes dropping by around 25% between the first quarter of 2023 and 2024. These findings suggest that claims of rising migrant crime are largely unfounded.
Another argument often made against immigration is the idea that immigrants take jobs away from American workers. Some critics have described this as an “economic war” on blue-collar America. However, studies challenge this view. In 1980, economist David Card analyzed the effect of a large influx of Cuban refugees into Miami. Despite the city’s workforce growing by 7%, wages and employment opportunities were largely unaffected. Immigrants are not just workers; they are also consumers, helping to drive demand for goods and services. While an oversupply of labor can lower wages, increased demand can have the opposite effect.
Furthermore, research from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that immigrants are more likely than native-born Americans to start businesses, contributing to the economy. In fact, less-skilled immigrants added $43 billion to the U.S. economy in 2015 alone.
In short, immigration is a net positive for the U.S. economy.
Some advocates of stricter immigration policies have proposed mass deportation as a solution. However, this approach faces significant logistical, ethical, and constitutional challenges. More importantly, studies show that mass deportations would harm the American economy. A University of Colorado Denver study found that for every 100 deportations, nine jobs are lost. Additionally, removing undocumented immigrants from the U.S. could lead to a sharp decline in income for millions of mixed-citizenship households. In 2014, these households had a median income of $41,300, but this would fall to $22,000 if immigrants were deported, increasing poverty for many families.
Mass deportation is not the answer to the crisis at the southern border. The current system encourages illegal immigration by making legal immigration and asylum nearly impossible. Asylum seekers who have fled their home countries due to fear of persecution can apply for asylum, but the process can take years. In fact, over 100,000 asylum applications remain pending. The Center for Immigration Studies also reports that there are more than 4.4 million people on the immigration waiting list, with wait times for family-based cases ranging from 19 months to over 30 years, depending on the country.
Immigration reform is essential to address these issues. Solutions should include expanding work visas for both high- and low-skilled workers, ensuring immigrants at the border have access to legal representation, and creating a more efficient system for legal immigration and asylum applications.
As someone with personal experience in the immigration process, I know the value immigrants bring to our country. My father, who immigrated to the U.S. from Brazil when he was 11, only received his green card when he was 26. Today, he is a physician, contributing to his community through his practice and research.
While the U.S. cannot solve all the problems of other countries, progress can only be made through comprehensive immigration reform. Immigration has been a vital part of our country’s growth since its founding. To demonize immigrants is to ignore the rich history and contributions of countless cultures that have helped build this nation.
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