This is the third of 4 articles about Immigration in the US. We originally posted this article as a single posting in January. http://issuesconnect.com/issues-to-connect/lies-about-immigration-told-by-trumps-true-believers
Native citizens and early arriving immigrants have reacted in a remarkably similar way to later arriving immigrants. Initially, the immigrants were welcomed because their labor was needed. As the number of immigrants increased or the immigrants began to organize for higher wages and better jobs, some natives reacted negatively to the immigrants. Often this negative reaction included violence directed at the immigrants. The hostility was accompanied by allegations of crime, the spread of disease, and the “theft” of jobs from natives. In some periods these immigrants were considered national security threats, as were Latinos in California during the Mexican American War, Japanese-Americans during World War II, and Arabs following the 9/11 attack. Nonetheless, the initial welcome afforded to the immigrants set a standard for more immigrants from the same country to come to the U.S. This schizophrenic treatment of recent immigrants by native citizens and early arriving immigrants is not unusual. One observer characterized it as old poison in new bottles.
Crime and National Defense
Trump and his followers cling to the harmful myths and fear-inducing anecdotes. They mainly focus on low skill workers and undocumented immigrants to support their beliefs. While it may seem reasonable to assume that as low skill immigrants move into an area, the salaries of American workers will be lowered. But like many other seemingly reasonable beliefs about immigration, economists have proven these assumptions wrong. In truth, low skilled immigrants are most likely to displace prior immigrants—those most like themselves—rather than native workers.
The focus on undocumented and low skill immigrants allows Trump to claim that they are more likely to be drug traffickers and violent criminals like MS-13. In fact, studies have found that the presence of immigrants is either not associated with increased crime rates or is related to a decrease in crime. According to the U.S. Border Patrol, of the annual influx of the 45,400 undocumented and unaccompanied minors entering the U.S., about 56 are suspected or confirmed as MS-13 gang members. In contrast, there are about ten thousand MS-13 gang members in the U.S. spread across 40 states. There is no evidence supporting the claim that undocumented or low skill immigrants increase U.S. crime.
The focus on undocumented and low skill immigrants allows Trump to claim that they are more likely to be drug traffickers and violent criminals like MS-13. In fact, studies have found that the presence of immigrants is either not associated with increased crime rates or is related to a decrease in crime. According to the U.S. Border Patrol, of the annual influx of the 45,400 undocumented and unaccompanied minors entering the U.S., about 56 are suspected or confirmed as MS-13 gang members. In contrast, there are about ten thousand MS-13 gang members in the U.S. spread across 40 states. There is no evidence supporting the claim that undocumented or low skill immigrants increase U.S. crime.
Public Assistance
Trump and his true believers also claim that immigrants rely on social services more than natives. And because they do not contribute their fair share of taxes, they are a net financial drain on the U.S. Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor to President Trump, in a blatantly false statement said, “every year we issue a million green cards to foreign nationals from all countries of the world, but we do so without regard to …whether they can pay their own way or be reliant on welfare.” However, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s primary consideration in granting legal immigration status is the applicant’s ability to be financially independent of public assistance. Immigrants who receive legal status as part of the family reunification program (what Trump demeaningly calls “chain migration”) must be sponsored by family members who can assure financial independence. Immigrants who are not sponsored by family members must wait at least five years before they are eligible to receive benefits. The only exceptions to the general prohibition on immigrants receiving aid are made for minor children, refugees, and asylum seekers. Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for any assistance, although they are subject to some taxation, such as sales taxes.
In part, because immigrants face stringent eligibility requirements for public assistance they use less than the native-born. Moreover, when immigrants receive benefits, the value of the benefits they receive is usually less than that obtained by the native-born. The combination of less use and lower benefits means the overall cost of public benefits is substantially less for immigrants than for comparable native-born adults and children.
In part, because immigrants face stringent eligibility requirements for public assistance they use less than the native-born. Moreover, when immigrants receive benefits, the value of the benefits they receive is usually less than that obtained by the native-born. The combination of less use and lower benefits means the overall cost of public benefits is substantially less for immigrants than for comparable native-born adults and children.
Economic Impacts
All the most strident claims made by Trump and his true believers about the negative economic impacts of immigration are false. In addition, however, economists point to many benefits of immigration that Trump and his true believers fail to consider.
Undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $11.2 billion dollars in state and local taxes. Besides state and local taxes, the bulk of which is made up of sales and property taxes, undocumented immigrants are estimated to have paid $23.6 billion dollars in federal income taxes. About half of all undocumented immigrants pay taxes in the hope that their tax records will, at some point, be used to show how long they have been in the U.S. and to help them obtain legal status. Also, low-skilled immigrants, including the undocumented, help lower the prices paid by consumers for services in large cities with immigrant populations.
Furthermore, immigrants will be needed to make for the loss to the labor market of retiring baby boomers. Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are already contributing to the Social Security and Medicare of native workers and will be needed to provide more in the future. According to the Social Security Administration, undocumented workers contributed $13 billion dollars to Social Security, although most will never benefit from their contributions.
Undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $11.2 billion dollars in state and local taxes. Besides state and local taxes, the bulk of which is made up of sales and property taxes, undocumented immigrants are estimated to have paid $23.6 billion dollars in federal income taxes. About half of all undocumented immigrants pay taxes in the hope that their tax records will, at some point, be used to show how long they have been in the U.S. and to help them obtain legal status. Also, low-skilled immigrants, including the undocumented, help lower the prices paid by consumers for services in large cities with immigrant populations.
Furthermore, immigrants will be needed to make for the loss to the labor market of retiring baby boomers. Immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are already contributing to the Social Security and Medicare of native workers and will be needed to provide more in the future. According to the Social Security Administration, undocumented workers contributed $13 billion dollars to Social Security, although most will never benefit from their contributions.
